as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the couple paid a gumshoe to look for their missing son
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gumshoe
Natasha Lyonne is back as TV’s favorite gumshoe detective with Poker Face season two, and the official trailer teases the adventures she’s poised to head on when the 12-episode season launches May 8 on Peacock (followed by a weekly release).
—
Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
The platform that made a gumshoe as flimsy as Benoit Blanc the center of his own franchise owes her all that and more.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
The gumshoe’s exploits, punctuated with suspense, dark comedy and a motley cast unique to the demimonde of the Mexican capital, have been made into films and a Netflix series and translated into English and other languages.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Lansbury became a household name thanks to her portrayal of an unusual gumshoe, often in perilous situations but always polite and clutching a sensible handbag.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gumshoe
Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
The platform that made a gumshoe as flimsy as Benoit Blanc the center of his own franchise owes her all that and more.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
The gumshoe’s exploits, punctuated with suspense, dark comedy and a motley cast unique to the demimonde of the Mexican capital, have been made into films and a Netflix series and translated into English and other languages.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Lansbury became a household name thanks to her portrayal of an unusual gumshoe, often in perilous situations but always polite and clutching a sensible handbag.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for gumshoe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gumshoe
Noun
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The victim’s relatives showed detectives a photo of Ackerman and the victim in the same area the victim’s body had been located, according to an affidavit.—
Caroline Zimmerman
July 7,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
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Meanwhile, back at the Marine Mammal Care Center, the scientific detective work is about to begin.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Fishy past Two decades ago, federal investigators alleged Marky’s was one of those companies caught in black market dealings.—
Kylie Williams,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2025
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State and city fire investigators say the Saddleridge fire began under one of those towers.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gumshoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumshoe. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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