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
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Recent Examples of detectives
Two people were taken into custody shortly after the shooting and were still being questioned by Belmont area detectives late Wednesday, according to a police spokesperson.
—
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Co-workers told detectives that Chino shows up at neighborhood projects from time to time looking to do construction jobs for some money, cops said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Homicide detectives took on the case culminating in Fort’s arrest late Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Investigators learned on Tuesday that Lickhart had died from her injuries, and homicide detectives took over the case, DiMartino said.
—Nathan Pilling
march 17, Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2026
Area detectives are investigating.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Alameda County Sheriff’s divers and detectives — utilizing drone and motor boats — were unable to find Alam for almost a week.
—Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
Denver detectives returned to the case in late 2018 and issued a warrant for Dawson’s arrest in 2023, according to court records.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
The investigation led detectives to suspect Berron.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Co-workers told detectives that Chino shows up at neighborhood projects from time to time looking to do construction jobs for some money, cops said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Homicide detectives took on the case culminating in Fort’s arrest late Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Investigators learned on Tuesday that Lickhart had died from her injuries, and homicide detectives took over the case, DiMartino said.
—Nathan Pilling
march 17, Kansas City Star, 18 Mar. 2026
Area detectives are investigating.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Alameda County Sheriff’s divers and detectives — utilizing drone and motor boats — were unable to find Alam for almost a week.
—Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026
Denver detectives returned to the case in late 2018 and issued a warrant for Dawson’s arrest in 2023, according to court records.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
The investigation led detectives to suspect Berron.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
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Payments will be based on severity and duration of the abuse, the level of cooperation with investigators and other factors, records show.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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Quinn says investigators questioned his story.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That summer, Cohen and a team of DOGE operatives touched down at the NRC offices, a series of nondescript towers across from a Dunkin’ in suburban Maryland.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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Or for the suggestion that Chinese intelligence operatives were roaming near sensitive sites with impunity.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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