detaining

verb

present participle of detain
1
as in arresting
to take or keep (someone) in confinement by authority of law Police detained the suspect.

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2
as in delaying
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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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detaining Immigration lawyers have argued that the administration is detaining people longer than allowed by previous court settlements. — Laura Romero, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 The court ruled that assigning an egregiously high bail, despite a defendant’s income declaration, was just a way of detaining them. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Collins lifted his shirt, and investigators removed a handgun from his waistband before detaining him. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026 That’s when four cars suddenly stopped at the spot, and six masked and armed federal agents emerged and converged, detaining the men without immediately identifying themselves, according to the initial lawsuit. — Staff and Wire Reports, Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 Newly obtained bodycam footage shows officers evacuating Child’s family and taking him, his grandson and the boy’s friend to a field showup after detaining a man who matched their description. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 In Salisbury, which has become a hub for Haitians who work in nearby factories and farms, ICE recently started detaining people in parking lots and other areas immigrants frequent, according to Fouché of Safe Harbor Circles. — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 This was accomplished in part by lowering operating costs — meaning the business of detaining people is becoming cheaper — and because of more people being put in detention. — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026 The city is simply saying ICE can’t violate the zoning regulations by detaining people at the strip-mall facility. — Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detaining
  1. arresting
  2. delaying
  3. apprehending
  4. seizing
Verb
  • Since his administration launched its mass deportation campaign and reversed limits on ICE arresting military spouses and parents, such arrests have become more common.
    — Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Law enforcement arrived within two minutes, officials said, before engaging the two shooters and arresting them.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of arresting
Verb
  • Tariffs could also limit technology choices for Americans by delaying new product launches, including devices featuring the latest AI technologies.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In other words, retirees stand to benefit more from annual COLAs by delaying.
    — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of delaying
Verb
  • The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation initially contacted Roswell police and asked for assistance locating and apprehending Spruill.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • She’s tasked with apprehending The Puppet Master (Iemasa Kayumi), a hacker who appears to be tapping directly into these networked minds and altering memories.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of apprehending
Verb
  • At the same time, seizing damaged assets could bring another financial burden.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Hull were, unsurprisingly, the opposite, playing with urgency on the ball and seizing the opportunity to hurt United at set pieces.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of seizing

Browse Nearby Words

detainers
detaining
detainment
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Cite this Entry

“Detaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detaining. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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