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
Summit County Sheriff's Office SCSO says detectives discovered electronic messages sent by Zabik detailing plans and a timeline to carry out a mass shooting in the county.
—
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 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
California detectives alerted Miami Gardens Police, and law enforcement from several agencies began assembling to arrest Clayton.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
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
But after further investigation, Smith said that detectives determined the pedestrian was hit by only one vehicle, and that driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Mandurah detectives are investigating, with police treating the attacks as suspicious, according to the outlet.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
Police did not elaborate on how detectives came to that conclusion.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 3 Nov. 2025
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 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
California detectives alerted Miami Gardens Police, and law enforcement from several agencies began assembling to arrest Clayton.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
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
But after further investigation, Smith said that detectives determined the pedestrian was hit by only one vehicle, and that driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Mandurah detectives are investigating, with police treating the attacks as suspicious, according to the outlet.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
Police did not elaborate on how detectives came to that conclusion.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
-
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 13 Jan. 2026.
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