as in investigators
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the code used by the serial killer in his letters to the police was actually cracked by an amateur detective
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of detectives
Homicide detectives are investigating the incident as a drive-by shooting, police said.
—
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Wentworth Area detectives were investigating.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
During an investigation with the Jail Intelligence Unit and detectives, two primary suspects were identified and search and arrest warrants were issued.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Court documents say detectives matched surveillance images with police records and witness identifications.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Co-workers told detectives that Chino shows up at neighborhood projects from time to time looking to do construction jobs for some money, cops said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Homicide detectives took on the case culminating in Fort’s arrest late Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Rivera said that detectives told her Xion was found on top of two of his little siblings after the shooting.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2025
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a 1-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in a licensed daycare center in Rancho San Diego on Tuesday.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2026
Wentworth Area detectives were investigating.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
During an investigation with the Jail Intelligence Unit and detectives, two primary suspects were identified and search and arrest warrants were issued.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Court documents say detectives matched surveillance images with police records and witness identifications.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Co-workers told detectives that Chino shows up at neighborhood projects from time to time looking to do construction jobs for some money, cops said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Homicide detectives took on the case culminating in Fort’s arrest late Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Rivera said that detectives told her Xion was found on top of two of his little siblings after the shooting.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2025
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a 1-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in a licensed daycare center in Rancho San Diego on Tuesday.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
-
Payments will be based on severity and duration of the abuse, the level of cooperation with investigators and other factors, records show.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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Quinn says investigators questioned his story.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In 2024 Israeli operatives infiltrated Hezbollah’s supply chain and used shell companies to sell members pagers and walkie-talkies rigged with explosives.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
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Though appearing to be ordinary citizens to their friends, neighbors and even their own children, both parents are in fact elite North Korean operatives working to destabilize the South from within.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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