as in delayed
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1
as in arrested
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law
Police detained the suspect.
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2
as in slowed
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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Recent Examples of detained
Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
The statement did not address why the family was detained on Saturday after Thursday’s ruling.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
This additional video appearing to show him being detained.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Authorities detained several individuals connected to the publishing house last year; the Popcorn Books imprint was shut down in January.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Matrimony while detained seemed less than ideal, though.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Rihan’s uncle Tariq, who was with Rihan when he was detained, expressed thanks to the many people in the room who worked for Rihan’s release.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Santiago's case gained national attention after she was detained by Customs and Border Protection officers while boarding a domestic flight at the El Paso airport in August.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
The family of Mohamed Soliman, the suspect in an alleged terrorist attack in Boulder last June, has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement again, just days after their release from an ICE facility in Texas.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
One off-duty officer detained an armed individual, while the other focused on a man who was hit by gunfire in the parking lot.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
The statement did not address why the family was detained on Saturday after Thursday’s ruling.
—Reuters, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
This additional video appearing to show him being detained.
—ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Authorities detained several individuals connected to the publishing house last year; the Popcorn Books imprint was shut down in January.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Matrimony while detained seemed less than ideal, though.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Rihan’s uncle Tariq, who was with Rihan when he was detained, expressed thanks to the many people in the room who worked for Rihan’s release.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Santiago's case gained national attention after she was detained by Customs and Border Protection officers while boarding a domestic flight at the El Paso airport in August.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
The family of Mohamed Soliman, the suspect in an alleged terrorist attack in Boulder last June, has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement again, just days after their release from an ICE facility in Texas.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detained
Adjective
-
Republicans narrowly control Congress and the agenda, but with the challenge of locking down enough of their own members after a delayed vote, Democratic votes will likely come into play — and the rare opportunity for leverage as the minority party.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Greece’s farming sector faces mounting strain, with weeks of protests triggered by delayed subsidy payments tied to the investigation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a letter to senators earlier this year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that between January and November of last year, 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 were removed from the country.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
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Three people were arrested after shots were fired at officers attempting to pull a vehicle over in the Brighton Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jean Brown, who lives on West Carmen Avenue, said police apprehended the suspect from under the back deck of a house in the alley between her street and West Winona Street.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Abundez, the other defendant, was apprehended in June 2025 at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As accounts become more delinquent, creditors may become more willing to negotiate, which is often when settlements are reached.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Eight-and-a-half percent were delinquent, but not charged off.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detained. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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