DETAINERS Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

detainers

noun

plural of detainer

as in detentions

the state of being held in lawful custody keep him in detainer for at least 72 hours

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in appropriations

the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority she filed an action for unlawful detainer of land after nonpayment of rent

Synonyms & Similar 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 detainers Since January 2025, the secretary said, his department has brought nearly 15,000 detainers in New York for immigrants the administration calls criminals. — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026 Matt Wallberg, the office’s director of communications, told the Washington Examiner that sanctuary laws prohibit authorities from honoring civil detainers. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 The Boston Trust Act, which the federal government unsuccessfully sued the city and mayor over, prevents city police from cooperating with ICE on civil immigration detainers, but still allows for cooperation in certain criminal matters. — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 18 Aug. 2026 In July 2025, the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections agreed to follow a federal law requiring inmates in custody be held for up to 48 hours on what are called immigration detainers. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Clifford said the program will streamline placing detainers on people already in custody at the jail. — Chadd Cripe. Produced With Ai Assistance, Idaho Statesman, 26 May 2026 From July 2024 to June 2025, the NYPD received 3,672 requests for civil immigration detainers, up from just 99 detainer requests from the same time period a year prior. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026 The sheriff’s department has to honor ICE detainers, under state law, or the county could be sued, Gore said. — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 Immigration detainers are requests for state or local law enforcement agencies to hold a person in criminal custody and to notify ICE before their release. — Liz Teitz, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detainers

Noun

These young people have defied prohibitions on protest, breached draconian security clampdowns, and endured detentions to relentlessly question the government’s authority.

— Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
In the complaint filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Attorney General Rob Bonta said that immigration detentions at courthouses in California have spiked in recent months despite a court order in a different case barring the practice.

— Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of detentions

Noun

If voters approve the sales tax initiatives, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK would be required to approve specific appropriations during future public meetings.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
The $1 million was included at Matsui’s request in the fiscal 2026 budget in January and became law April 30 as part of a congressional appropriations package.

— Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of appropriations

Noun

Part of the Measure J mandate passed by voters in 2020 is to reduce incarcerations by adding more interdictions by substance abuse and mental health counselors, when there’s no weapon involved or violent threat.

— Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 11 Aug. 2026
One 2025 study found that these waivers may be tied to fewer hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and incarcerations among adults with serious mental illness.

— Helen Santoro, Denver Post, 29 June 2026

Definition of incarcerations

Noun

Operation Blackout is the FBI’s global campaign to identify and dismantle foreign scam compounds through overseas raids, asset seizures and the disruption of web domains and infrastructure linked to scam networks.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
In the decade of violent conflicts that followed, attacks on border towns and seizures of American property by revolutionaries and bandits prompted the United States to send two military expeditions into Mexico.

— Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of seizures

Noun

Now his mass deportations have created trauma and chaos in our communities, including unpredictable arrests, imprisonments, deportations and deaths.

— Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
After this, there will be a lot of going back and forth across the Channel; crimes of the aristocracy; Darnay’s own Big Secret revealed; more trials, more imprisonments.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of imprisonments

Noun

Hinojosa elaborated on her position on state takeovers while answering another question at Thursday’s event.

— Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, the festival’s Resistance stage will host takeovers by Mau P’s Baddest Behaviour brand and Adam Bayer’s stalwart techno label Drumcode Records.

— Katie Bain, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of takeovers

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“Detainers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detainers. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of detainers

noun

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