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Detention: alternatives and connections

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350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
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Detention

The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.

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47 useful connections shown 8 reviewed relationships and 39 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Broader term 3

Confinement 76% connected

Restraint within limits; imprisonment; any restraint of liberty; seclusion.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Penalty 76% connected

Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commissio…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Punishment 76% connected

The act of punishing.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

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Derivationally related 2

Detain 74% connected

To keep back or from; to withhold.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

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Detain 74% connected

To keep back or from; to withhold.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

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Synonym 3

Custody 92% connected

A keeping or guarding; care, watch, inspection, for keeping, preservation, or security.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Detainment 92% connected

Detention.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Hold 92% connected

The whole interior portion of a vessel below the lower deck, in which the cargo is stowed.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Words from the same subject

These terms belong to the same specialist field or topic. They help you explore the subject, but they are not automatically synonyms.

Criminology noun · 78% connection

the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior and law enforcement

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Brand noun · 78% connection

a symbol of disgrace or infamy; "And the Lord set a mark upon Cain" - The Bible, Genesis 4:15

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Control noun · 78% connection

discipline in personal and social activities; "he was a model of polite restraint"; "she never lost control of herself"

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Crime noun · 78% connection

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes"

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Criminal offence noun · 78% connection

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes"

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Criminal offense noun · 78% connection

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes"

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Criminalism noun · 78% connection

the state of being a criminal

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Criminality noun · 78% connection

the state of being a criminal

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Criminalness noun · 78% connection

the state of being a criminal

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Delinquency noun · 78% connection

a tendency to be negligent and uncaring; "he inherited his delinquency from his father"; "his derelictions were not really intended as…

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Dereliction noun · 78% connection

a tendency to be negligent and uncaring; "he inherited his delinquency from his father"; "his derelictions were not really intended as…

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Deviance noun · 78% connection

deviate behavior

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Deviation noun · 78% connection

deviate behavior

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Law-breaking noun · 78% connection

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes"

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Mark noun · 78% connection

a symbol of disgrace or infamy; "And the Lord set a mark upon Cain" - The Bible, Genesis 4:15

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
Definition Compare
Penalisation noun · 78% connection

the act of punishing, or the infliction of a penalty

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Penalization noun · 78% connection

the act of punishing, or the infliction of a penalty

Used in the same subject area: Sociology, Crime and deviance.
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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.

Addorsed adjective · 78% connection

Set or turned back to back.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Back noun · 78% connection

The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Backed adjective · 78% connection

Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad-backed; hump-backed.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Backplate noun · 78% connection

A piece, or plate which forms the back of anything, or which covers the back; armor for the back.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Backsliding adjective · 78% connection

Slipping back; falling back into sin or error; sinning.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Backwards adverb · 78% connection

On the back, or with the back downward.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Behind adjective · 78% connection

On the side opposite the front or nearest part; on the back side of; at the back of; on the other side of; as, behind a door; behind a…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Blench verb · 78% connection

To shrink; to start back; to draw back, from lack of courage or resolution; to flinch; to quail.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Central vowel noun · 78% connection

(linguistics) any vowel sound in which the tongue is positioned halfway between a front vowel and a back vowel.; "In practice, unround…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Chasuble noun · 78% connection

The outer vestment worn by the priest in saying Mass, consisting, in the Roman Catholic Church, of a broad, flat, back piece, and a na…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Deforcement noun · 78% connection

A keeping out by force or wrong; a wrongful withholding, as of lands or tenements, to which another has a right.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Distance noun · 78% connection

A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Dorsiferous unknown · 78% connection

Bearing, or producing, on the back; -- applied to ferns which produce seeds on the back of the leaf, and to certain Batrachia, the ova…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Ejectment noun · 78% connection

A species of mixed action, which lies for the recovery of possession of real property, and damages and costs for the wrongful withhold…

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Estimated tax noun · 78% connection

income tax paid periodically on income that is not subject to withholding taxes; based on the taxpayer's predicted tax liability

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
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Hiding noun · 78% connection

The act of hiding or concealing, or of withholding from view or knowledge; concealment.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Incredulity noun · 78% connection

The state or quality of being i/credulous; a withholding or refusal of belief; skepticism; unbelief; disbelief.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
Negative noun · 78% connection

The refusal or withholding of assents; veto.

Its definition shares important concepts with this word: detaining, keeping, back, withholding.
Definition Compare
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