police 1 of 2

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

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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

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
Denver police Chief Ron Thomas spoke in favor of the ban during a news conference at the Denver City and County Building on Monday. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 4 May 2026 Activists have filed a federal lawsuit in Wisconsin alleging that police used unnecessary force. David Fischer, Fortune, 4 May 2026
Verb
The tipster said they were notified by the school but expressed concern that the incident was not reported to police immediately. Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 New Mexico recently won a $375 million civil case that held Meta liable for failing to police its sites for child predators, and a jury in Los Angeles found Meta, along with Google, liable for a 20-year-old woman's social media addiction. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for police
Recent Examples of Synonyms for police
Noun
  • This case is an example of what the accountability law was designed to do, and not necessarily a sign that POST is taking a tougher stance on police shootings, according to Meagan Poulos, an agency spokesperson.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
  • However, the information provided was inaccurate and did not align with county election law.
    Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
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
Verb
  • Carly is cool, calm, controlled, and precise.
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • Yura’s nemeses, who are part of her elderly father’s underwater court, seem to be after her magical flute, an ancient device that controls their kingdom’s dragon.
    Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Pau’s videos, operating both as personal diaries and layered social commentaries, reflect a territorial condition mired in uncertainty.
    Pauline J. Yao, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • The carrier failed to secure a financial lifeline to continue operating, ending the discount air travel pioneer’s time in the sky, costing some 17,000 jobs and thousands of cheap flights in the market.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • This depth helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature without restricting airflow.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026
  • The door opened for college athletes to profit from NIL in 2020 after a pair of lawsuits favored Division 1 athletes and the NCAA began regulating it.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • United Airlines is conducting its own investigation into what happened, a spokesperson said.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
  • The Statesman conducted routine background checks on both candidates in the contested Seat B primary, and sent them a questionnaire to help voters better understand their priorities in their own words.
    Mark Dee May 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 May 2026
Verb
  • As Los Angeles city officials weigh a sweeping rewrite of the city’s governing rules that could go before voters this fall, a marathon public hearing this week offered a revealing snapshot of what Angelenos want from City Hall, and what may be harder to change.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 2 May 2026
  • Conservatives who care about limited government should be troubled by a federal law whose primary purpose is to prevent states from governing themselves.
    Jesse Plunkett, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The casting has always managed to feel diverse, but in a guileless, incidental way, giving the appearance of multicultural inclusion without espousing any explicitly progressive viewpoints.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The Bruins managed to keep it tight through the end of the first, with the Sabres taking that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Police.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/police. Accessed 7 May. 2026.

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