as in sensor
a device that detects some physical quantity and responds usually with a transmitted signal
a motion detector to thwart burglaries
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Recent Examples of detector
The chemical is believed to work in a number of ways—jamming smell detectors so that mosquitoes cannot recognize a human or animal target, conferring a bitter taste that mosquitoes detect on their feet, or mimicking the smell of natural mosquito-repelling plants.
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Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 28 May 2026
Merchant's latest detector, the Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II, costs about $800.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Specify in scopes of work and editorial guidelines that detector scores are advisory, not pass/fail metrics.
—Uri Samet, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Astronomers boost these odds by building telescopes with bigger light-gathering mirrors or detectors, which in turn collect more photons and deliver crisper, clearer images.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detector
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 28 May 2026
Merchant's latest detector, the Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II, costs about $800.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Specify in scopes of work and editorial guidelines that detector scores are advisory, not pass/fail metrics.
—Uri Samet, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Astronomers boost these odds by building telescopes with bigger light-gathering mirrors or detectors, which in turn collect more photons and deliver crisper, clearer images.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detector
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detector
sensor
Noun
-
OpenWorks says troops can carry the core equipment and supporting sensors inside a standard military backpack.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
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Federal agents have radar, acoustic sensors to detect the distinct noise signature of a drone’s motors and propellers and thermal and optical detection.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detector.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detector. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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