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
Chicago Police Department Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact Area 2 SVU detectives at 312-747-8274.
—
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Two veteran homicide detectives who once served at the LAPD, including the former detective who oversaw Short's investigation, say that several clues point to Margolis, who died in 1993, being responsible for Short's death and the five murders attributed to the Zodiac Killer.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The investigation into the incident by Hollywood Division detectives is ongoing.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
On Monday, Miami Beach police detectives paid Raquel Pacheco a visit to ask about a critical comment that had been left under one of Meiner’s Facebook posts.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Additionally, detectives believe McCray and Asendorf knew each other prior to the alleged murder, according to WSVN.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Tipsters may also call homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective Travis Dalton, with assistance from other Post 4 detectives and troopers, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office and the Meade County Coroner’s Office.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
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
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Two veteran homicide detectives who once served at the LAPD, including the former detective who oversaw Short's investigation, say that several clues point to Margolis, who died in 1993, being responsible for Short's death and the five murders attributed to the Zodiac Killer.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The investigation into the incident by Hollywood Division detectives is ongoing.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
On Monday, Miami Beach police detectives paid Raquel Pacheco a visit to ask about a critical comment that had been left under one of Meiner’s Facebook posts.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Additionally, detectives believe McCray and Asendorf knew each other prior to the alleged murder, according to WSVN.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Tipsters may also call homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective Travis Dalton, with assistance from other Post 4 detectives and troopers, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office and the Meade County Coroner’s Office.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
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The investigators and May expressed concern that DeCristo had not addressed her actions.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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Parents of students with disabilities have increasingly resorted to filing complaints with the state over their schools’ failure to educate their children, and most of the time, state investigators have agreed.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Khanna’s public statements haven’t stopped pro-China operatives from targeting him in their influence operations, however.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Everyone was deemed an armed terrorist, on par with the depictions of Al Qaeda operatives in Afghan caves, and thus the face of a minister for youth and sports could be plastered with a red X on Israel’s official government channels, the same as Osama bin Laden’s.—
Séamus Malekafzali,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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