gumshoes

noun

plural of gumshoe
as in detectives
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

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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 gumshoes It’s been a decent summer so far for plucky British gumshoes. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 30 June 2026 Chris Columbus, director of Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films, helms the comedic caper, which follows an amiable gang of gumshoes who spend their golden years investigating cold cases. — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gumshoes
  1. detectives
  2. investigators
Noun
  • Detectives spoke with another psychic who first reached out to Sophie’s family before detectives followed up with them, police said, adding the psychic had offered services for free.
    — Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • According to Fort Worth police, homicide detectives are investigating.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of detectives
Noun
  • The affidavit in the case says investigators found three checks Fernandez Saldana wrote to Tenon in October 2022, CNN previously reported, and phone records show the men had more than 60 phone contacts with each other.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Combs has repeatedly denied any involvement in Shakur’s killing and has never been named by investigators as a suspect or even a person of interest in the case.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigators

Browse Nearby Words

gumshoe
gumshoes
gums (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Gumshoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumshoes. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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