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
  • Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators are also looking into if the man was connected to the shooting reported the previous night.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The scripts were written based on their own reporting, including court documents, investigation transcripts, and interviews with detectives, witnesses, and even Laurie Valdez, an old friend of Wuornos’ who’d never previously spoken with the press.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of detectives
Noun
  • Jamal allegedly promised to protect the Feeding Our Future operatives against the threat of prosecution, took their money, and then turned some of them over to investigators.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
  • But as investigators reviewed Vorcaro’s messages, the scandal spread to Flávio’s own campaign.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 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 6 Oct. 2026.

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