police 1 of 2

noun

Definition of policenext
1
as in law
the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes the appearance of a ransom note meant that the teenager's disappearance was now a matter for the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in constabulary
a body of officers of the law the National Guard will serve as backup for the metropolitan police in the event of violent protests

Synonyms & Similar Words

police

2 of 2

verb

as in to control

Related Words

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 police
Noun
Helicopters were seen overhead, and police said the scene was still active late Saturday. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026 The Infiniti driver was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and the Ford driver was hospitalized for evaluation, police shared. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
Verb
Two separate complaints to police in Hartford culminated late last month in an opposing opinion that was part of the police investigation, according to a June 25 incident report. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 Trump has accused vandals of ruining the pool, and redirected officers to police the area. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for police
Recent Examples of Synonyms for police
  1. law
  2. constabulary
  3. control
  4. operate
  5. regulate
  6. conduct
  7. govern
  8. manage
Noun
  • Hopefully, the next administration will see some sense and once again try to protect the citizenry with stricter gun laws.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
  • The shooting took place in a country with far stronger gun laws compared to the US and where mass shootings are infrequent.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
Definition of law
Noun
  • Several British constabularies have added EVs to their fleets for urban policing duties, often using models such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The local constabulary said the British Transport Police was leading the investigation.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Definition of constabulary
Verb
  • Ndoye didn't shoot on his first touch of the ball, though, and that slight hesitation to control the ball and gather for a shot left just enough time for Argentina to swoop in to block the shot.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 12 July 2026
  • Whereas North County cities account for about 20% of the county’s population, their mayors control 40% of the seats on SANDAG’s 20-member board.
    — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
Definition of control
Verb
  • But if Texas doesn’t allow sports betting, how can these markets operate in the state?
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
  • Marine engines operate under sustained high RPM and are exposed to moisture, which requires additional protection against wear and corrosion.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026
Definition of operate
Verb
  • In 1972, ordinary Californians circulated petitions, knocked on doors, and rode bicycles down the coast, rallying support for Proposition 20, which aimed to regulate coastal development.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • The Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulates those markets, where people can trade contracts based on whether a future event will happen.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
Definition of regulate
Verb
  • The district usually begins mosquito testing in May, according to Abshier, and conducts weekly tests in many different locations within Sutter and Yuba counties.
    — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • His government has conducted raids and arrested dozens of current and former lawmakers and government officials accused of corruption, including a number affiliated with former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of conduct
Verb
  • Residents are strictly governed by regulations and believe the outside world is toxic, but the protagonist, an engineer named Juliette Nichols, begins to uncover secrets about the Silo’s history and the truth behind their world.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
  • The Football Association, the governing body of the sport in England, has to be alive to opportunities like this.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of govern
Verb
  • Tracy, who managed several of the current Red Sox players in Triple A earlier this season, isn’t surprised by their success.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • According to a source, Oman has drafted a proposal to manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key sticking point in the conflict.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
Definition of manage

Phrases Containing police

Browse Nearby Words

polestars
police
police action
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Police.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/police. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on police

Nglish: Translation of police for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about police

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bibelot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All