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
as in to control
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of police
Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
City leaders continue to ignore what is really needed — a larger permanent police presence and proactive law enforcement.
—Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Sutton said Minneapolis policing has collapsed since the 2020 unrest, noting the city is authorized for about 900 officers but now has roughly 550, with only around 265 patrol officers available to police the entire city.
—Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for police
Noun
Related: Austin police weren’t required to call ICE.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
City leaders continue to ignore what is really needed — a larger permanent police presence and proactive law enforcement.
—Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Since the civil-rights era, the federal government has policed the police, ensuring oversight after brutality is carried out by people wearing badges, whether in Selma in 1965 or Minneapolis in 2020.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Sutton said Minneapolis policing has collapsed since the 2020 unrest, noting the city is authorized for about 900 officers but now has roughly 550, with only around 265 patrol officers available to police the entire city.
—Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for police
Recent Examples of Synonyms for police
Noun
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In the days after the Bondi Beach massacre – allegedly committed by a father and son who had embraced Islamic State ideology – the government announced sweeping new gun laws, tougher rules on hate speech, and stronger powers for the home affairs minister to cancel visas on character grounds.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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These include physical resilience, self-defense, marksmanship, map reading, and military law.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The local constabulary said the British Transport Police was leading the investigation.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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The decision was made on the advice of West Midlands Police, the constabulary with responsibility for overseeing security at the match.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As armed gangs now control up to 90% of metropolitan Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite region -- areas that together represent roughly 60% of the electorate -- Washington has emphasized the need for stability and a swift path to elections rather than a prolonged transition.—
JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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The Mavericks had the fourth-highest payroll in the NBA, controlled only two first-round picks outright until 2031, and had no second-round picks until 2030, before the Davis trade.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Puerto Rican music artist had been outspoken last year as federal agents operated in Los Angeles.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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The plaintiffs argue that the way the government operates the dams violates the Endangered Species Act, and over decades of litigation judges have repeatedly ordered changes to help the fish.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One of the major issues was that the federal government did not regulate it, and states and localities operated on different schedules.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
8 Feb. 2026
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This nutrient helps regulate your heartbeat and supports healthy muscle function.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The agreement, signed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Airbus, and CFM International, will see Singapore conduct real-world evaluations of open-fan engines developed under CFM’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines program.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
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According to a 2025 market analysis conducted by OfferUp, a mobile marketplace app, 69% of shoppers turn to secondhand when the economy gets shaky.—
Mari Sato The Dallas Morning News,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The council, made up of seasoned political figures representing all sectors of Haitian society, had failed in their efforts to form a governing bloc to address the country’s core challenges, including security and elections.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
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Congressman Mike Levin has weighed in, sending a letter to USOPC officials in late December urging them to name USA Surfing the governing body in a timely manner.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His campaign disputes that characterization, emphasizing his role on the administration’s FEMA Review Council, a body tasked with evaluating disaster policy rather than managing day-to-day operations, according to reporting from the Charlotte Observer.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
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An American surfer managed to drag his surfboard onto the train, even though it wasn’t allowed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Police.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/police. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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