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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detectives Anyone with information is asked to call KCPD homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 Sheriff’s officials said the detectives later identified Morales Garcia, Farfan Ambriz and Medina as suspects in the homicide and obtained arrest warrants for them. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026 Eventually, the detectives find the three men and bring them to trial. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 The Ontario Police Department said in a statement Thursday that detectives from its Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force were seeking the public’s help in finding additional victims. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The scripts were written based on their own reporting, including court documents, investigation transcripts, and interviews with detectives, witnesses, and even Laurie Valdez, an old friend of Wuornos’ who’d never previously spoken with the press. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026 Investigators say a black handgun was located next to the vehicle and later seized by detectives. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026 No charges were announced as Calumet Area detectives continued their investigation. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026 Her death remains a mystery as detectives try to determine why she was killed. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
  1. investigators
  2. operatives
Noun
  • The investigators notified the Mexican army, providing the license plate number.
    — Steve Fisher Special Correspondent Follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • This month, Philadelphia police and FBI investigators returned to the Horsch house, searching for any physical evidence that could confirm what the horrific images appear to show.
    — Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of investigators
Noun
  • Jamal allegedly promised to protect the Feeding Our Future operatives against the threat of prosecution, took their money, and then turned some of them over to investigators.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
  • To the continued amazement of advantage players, casino operatives can argue with apparent conviction that card counting— essentially mental arithmetic—is a form of fraud.
    — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of operatives

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Cite this Entry

“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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