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
Under the deal, 10 Nassau County detectives have been trained and designated to work with ICE on apprehensions and investigations, and the county has reserved 50 jail cells for ICE to hold detainees for up to 72 hours before deportation or charging.
—
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Maybe archaeologists and detectives are not so different.
—JSTOR Daily, 28 Oct. 2025
The film sees detectives discover the remains of 23 women and six men at the residence of filmmaker and serial killer Mark Chapel, who is arrested along with a collaborator, Donovan Summers, who is also later detained.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
In their investigation, detectives learned that Garfias, Vargas’s ex-boyfriend, sent her a text message luring her to the outside of a bar, the district attorney said in the statement.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
When detectives approached, Reese allegedly threw the knife toward them.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
That allowed detectives to collect fingerprints and the male DNA.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Hall declined to discuss the circumstances of the shooting with detectives, police said.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
Stolen debit cards Miami-Dade homicide detectives uncovered that a few days after Anderson’s death, multiple purchases were made across Miami-Dade County using his debit card.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Maybe archaeologists and detectives are not so different.
—JSTOR Daily, 28 Oct. 2025
The film sees detectives discover the remains of 23 women and six men at the residence of filmmaker and serial killer Mark Chapel, who is arrested along with a collaborator, Donovan Summers, who is also later detained.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
In their investigation, detectives learned that Garfias, Vargas’s ex-boyfriend, sent her a text message luring her to the outside of a bar, the district attorney said in the statement.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
When detectives approached, Reese allegedly threw the knife toward them.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
That allowed detectives to collect fingerprints and the male DNA.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Hall declined to discuss the circumstances of the shooting with detectives, police said.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 15 Oct. 2025
Stolen debit cards Miami-Dade homicide detectives uncovered that a few days after Anderson’s death, multiple purchases were made across Miami-Dade County using his debit card.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
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Two of the victims, both of whom were women in their early 20s, told investigators they were raped at the tattoo studio, per the release.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Tracing them to Maduro would take federal investigators months.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Seasoned political operatives and experienced business executives Steve Silverman and Carrie Goux will lead the Washington office.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
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For months, New Jersey’s 2025 governor’s race was considered sleepy political theater—the kind expected to reaffirm the state’s blue credentials before national operatives move on.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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