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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 gumshoe
Welcome back, Charlie Cale. Natasha Lyonne is back as TV’s favorite gumshoe detective in the first teaser for Poker Face season two, and the footage teases the roster of high-wattage guest stars who have been brought in to play in Charlie’s murder mystery sandbox when the series returns.
—
Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Another Simple Favor, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime, promises another fashionable ride with Stephanie the gumshoe and Emily the seductive femme fatale.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 1 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for gumshoe
Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Another Simple Favor, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime, promises another fashionable ride with Stephanie the gumshoe and Emily the seductive femme fatale.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 1 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for gumshoe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gumshoe
Noun
-
The boy was later taken into custody at Shawnee High School and questioned by detectives, but was released after police determined he was not involved.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The film stars Smith as a detective in a near-future utopia in which humanity is served by a legion of compliant robots.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
After working with a local towing company to remove the car from the water, investigators then matched the car’s vehicle identification number to Roy Benn, who went missing in September 1967, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.—
Gordon Ebanks,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators call detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the department’s anonymous tip-line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gumshoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumshoe. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share