Synonyms for detain
dɪˈteɪnde·tain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. detain

   The legal term arrest carries always the implication of a legal offense; this is true even of arresting for debt. But one may be detained by process of law when no offense is alleged against him, as in the case of a witness who is held in a house of detention till a case comes to trial. One may be restrained of his liberty without arrest, as in an insane asylum; an individual or corporation may be restrained by injunction from selling certain property. In case of an arrest, an officer may secure his prisoner by fetters, by a locked door, or other means effectually to prevent escape. Capture is commonly used of seizure by armed force; as, to capture a ship, a fort, etc. Compare HINDER; OBSTRUCT.

   Synonyms:
   apprehend, arrest, capture, catch, hold, make prisoner, restrain, secure, seize, stop, take into custody, take prisoner

   Antonyms:
   discharge, dismiss, free, liberate, release, set free

   Preposition:
   Arrested for crime, on suspicion, by the sheriff; on, upon, or by virtue of a warrant; on final process; in execution.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.5 / 4 votes

1. detain

   Synonyms:
   stay, keep, arrest, check, withhold, delay, restrain, embargo, stop

   Antonyms:
   liberate, expedite, accelerate, dismiss, loose, disembargo

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. confine, detainverb

   deprive of freedom; take into confinement

   Synonyms:
   restrict, hold, bound, restrain, circumscribe, stay, throttle, hold in, hold up, confine, delay, limit, trammel, enclose

2. stay, detain, delayverb

   stop or halt

   "Please stay the bloodshed!"

   Synonyms:
   quell, delay, bide, stick, stay, last out, confine, hold up, ride out, persist, check, rest, appease, remain, stick around, abide, retard, stay on, stay put, outride, continue

3. delay, detain, hold upverb

   cause to be slowed down or delayed

   "Traffic was delayed by the bad weather"; "she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform"

   Synonyms:
   go, live, stick up, stay, last, delay, confine, hold up, hold out, hold, sustain, hold water, live on, support, check, retard, endure, stand up, withstand, defy, survive

Matched Categories

1. • Check
   • Slow

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. detainverb

   Synonyms:
   restrain, stay, check, delay, retain, stop, keep back

2. detainverb

   Synonyms:
   confine, hold in custody

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "detain":

   detains, arrests, arrest, detention, nabs, incarcerate, apprehend, imprison, arresting, hold, stop, detained, nab, captures, arrested

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How to use detain in a sentence?

1. Kirstjen Nielsen:

   Today, legal loopholes significantly hinder the Department's ability to appropriately detain and promptly remove family units that have no legal basis to remain in the country, this rule addresses one of the primary pull factors for illegal immigration and allows the federal government to enforce immigration laws as passed by Congress.

2. President Raimonds Vejonis:

   I don’t believe that we need to close borders because in reality these people who are involved in terrorism are already mainly European citizens. It means our security institutions need to work more carefully and intensively to recognize such individuals and detain them if necessary.

3. Berta Valle:

   These actions by the regime to capture and detain opposition leaders also have the purpose of creating a chilling effect for the citizenry. The common citizen has to wonder if that's how they treat Maradiaga, Cristiana Chamorro, Arturo Cruz and others, how much more can they do against the average citizen that doesn't have as big an exposure.

4. Omar Jadwat:

   The last thing the government should be doing is putting immigrants into prisons so that it can detain even more people who pose no threat to anyone.

5. Homer:

   It is equally offensive to speed a guest who would like to stay and to detain one who is anxious to leave.