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
  • Tallahassee police detectives have reviewed digital evidence and canvassed the area, police said in a statement Sunday.
    — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The older brother, Marques Smith, said in an interview with detectives that they were dropped off from work at 29th Street and Indiana Avenue minutes before police officers were seen in the area, according to court records.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of detectives
Noun
  • When investigators approached him in 2010 about the investigation into his father’s killing, Douglas Herlihy referred them to his attorney.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Over 70 women came forward to investigators, reporting harrowing accounts of the brothers’ attacks, prosecutors said in their sentencing memo.
    — Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 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 26 Oct. 2026.

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