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
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Recent Examples of detectives
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
Police said homicide detectives are investigating what led to the shooting.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
Police urge anyone with information to call KCPD detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
The detectives subsequently obtained an arrest warrant Burnside on the homicide charge.
—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
One of the main detectives involved in Nickell's murder investigation was Metropolitan police detective Keith Pedder, who was played by Neil Maskell.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 June 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
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
Police said homicide detectives are investigating what led to the shooting.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
Police urge anyone with information to call KCPD detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026
The detectives subsequently obtained an arrest warrant Burnside on the homicide charge.
—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
One of the main detectives involved in Nickell's murder investigation was Metropolitan police detective Keith Pedder, who was played by Neil Maskell.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 June 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
-
In the final seconds before impact, investigators found Wilburn was attempting to avoid the collision but was unable to stop before the red light.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
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The commissioners plan to develop a five-year plan to phase in state funding, along with enforceable standards like caseload limits and access to defense investigators.—
Anat Rubin,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
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That is until their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances in the USSR, and the pair become CIA operatives.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
23 June 2026
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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.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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