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
Police said there were no signs of trauma or foul play and homicide detectives are investigating.
—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
On June 12, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Pollock on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police said.
—
Sofia Saric
june 23,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Thompson said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact KCPD homicide unit detectives at 816-234-5043, or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
—
Kendrick Calfee
june 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
An investigation led detectives to obtain search warrants for two other homes on Emily Lane, officials said.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2026
The investigation into the incident led detectives to determine that Johnson was the suspect.
—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
The case went cold until 2022, when detectives linked Heuermann to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010.
—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Sacramento County sheriff’s detectives on Tuesday arrested a man in the Bay Area in connection with a deadly shooting last weekend inside an Arden Arcade liquor store.
—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Authorities are asking anyone with knowledge of the case to contact Philadelphia homicide detectives.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
On June 12, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Pollock on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police said.
—
Sofia Saric
june 23,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Thompson said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact KCPD homicide unit detectives at 816-234-5043, or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
—
Kendrick Calfee
june 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
An investigation led detectives to obtain search warrants for two other homes on Emily Lane, officials said.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
24 June 2026
The investigation into the incident led detectives to determine that Johnson was the suspect.
—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
The case went cold until 2022, when detectives linked Heuermann to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010.
—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Sacramento County sheriff’s detectives on Tuesday arrested a man in the Bay Area in connection with a deadly shooting last weekend inside an Arden Arcade liquor store.
—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Authorities are asking anyone with knowledge of the case to contact Philadelphia homicide detectives.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
-
On May 1, investigators served a search warrant and seized evidence.
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Anyone with more information regarding the incident was asked to contact the SBSD Homicide Detail investigators at 909-890-4904.
Noun
-
That is until their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in the USSR, and the pair become CIA operatives.
-
The eight defendants, described by federal prosecutors as antifa operatives, were convicted after three weeks of trial and less than two days of jury deliberation in March.
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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