Synonyms of detectives

detectives

noun

plural of detective

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

• investigators
• operatives
• sleuths
• dicks
• gumshoes
• private investigators
• private detectives
• private eyes
• sleuthhounds
• sherlocks
• shadows
• tracers
• hawkshaws
• trackers
• shamuses
• plainclothesmen
• feds
• narcs
• Federals
• tails
• G-men

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of detectives

In January, detectives seized several items during a search of Oak Park Station, including a vehicle, a motorcycle, and some electronic devices. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel were gathering evidence and searching for witnesses Friday afternoon. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 19 Sep. 2026

No one was in custody as Belmont Area detectives continued their investigation. — Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

After looking into his relatives, detectives learned of Stephens, who police suspected was the rapist. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

Back at his Brickell apartment, detectives searched the unit after a judge signed off on a warrant. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

About a month after Craig’s death, police homicide detectives released security camera video of a suspect in the Oak Park fatal shooting. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Police said homicide detectives were called to the scene and a person of interest was detained. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026

Instead, detectives say the group used falsified invoices and documents and transferred cash into personal bank accounts. — Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026