1
as in to arrest
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to delay
to keep (someone or something) from proceeding or progressing
She sent word that she had been unavoidably detained. The plane was detained for hours due to inclement weather.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detain
Baret has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on separate charges.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2025
However, on the call, Boasberg signaled that some of the five Venezuelans who were detained over the weekend were already onboard repatriation flights.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Mar. 2025
Rekha Sharma-Crawford, a partner at Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law who represents several individuals who were detained, told The Star that her team should have a disposition on the last person in custody soon.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2025
Mahmoud Khalil, who was involved in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Columbia’s campus, is a permanent resident of the U.S. and has not been charged with a crime—and yet he is being detained.
—Hannah Jocelyn, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detain
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2025
However, on the call, Boasberg signaled that some of the five Venezuelans who were detained over the weekend were already onboard repatriation flights.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Mar. 2025
Rekha Sharma-Crawford, a partner at Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law who represents several individuals who were detained, told The Star that her team should have a disposition on the last person in custody soon.
—Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2025
Mahmoud Khalil, who was involved in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Columbia’s campus, is a permanent resident of the U.S. and has not been charged with a crime—and yet he is being detained.
—Hannah Jocelyn, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detain
Verb
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The Boston Police Department Fugitive Task Force arrested Shaha at his residence on Friday, charging him as a fugitive from justice.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2025
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The women were arrested on child abuse charges after Ruby Franke's emaciated 12-year-old son Russell escaped through a window and knocked on a neighbor's door.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Broken cross-department collaboration exacerbates inefficiencies, delaying decision-making and execution.—
Joao Mendes-Roter,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Still, some who have been focused on TCE were surprised that the Trump administration was delaying and reconsidering the recent ban.—
Sharon Lerner,
ProPublica,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Alves De Oliveira, who is wanted for homicide in Brazil, and Jairo Reynaldo Soto Lara, who is wanted for homicide in the Dominican Republic, were also apprehended by ICE.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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He was apprehended and appeared in a March 15 hearing.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Late last year, a U.K. court ruled that police could seize $3.3 million worth of frozen assets from the brothers to cover years of unpaid taxes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2025
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Documents show police seized the following items from Kohberger that night: four medical-style gloves, a white T-shirt, a Champion sweatshirt, a pair of size 13 Nike shoes, and black shorts, boxers and socks, all from Under Armour.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detain. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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