as in informers
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
the FBI is working closely with informants to find out about the subversive group
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Recent Examples of informants
Shiwa Hassanpour, an activist with the human rights monitor Hengaw Organization, based in Iraq’s Kurdish region, said people have been shot for approaching the border, because Iranian forces suspect them of being spies or informants.
—
ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Weathermen and Panthers held meetings together and exchanged intel about government surveillance and police informants.
—Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Zannelli stepped in as acting chief in January after Karl Jacobson abruptly filed retirement papers when he was confronted about money that was missing from the fund the department uses to pay confidential informants.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
The informants don't trust the police.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Under constant surveillance from informants and prying neighbors, the pair must conceal their enduring love while navigating a society on the brink of collapse, and the promise of newfound freedom.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Hicks sold crack cocaine and heroin twice to undercover informants in Hammond in August 2023.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Women were central — as planners, fighters, informants, protectors, logisticians, and spiritual anchors.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
Investigators are using tools ranging from electronic surveillance — which includes the internet — undercover operations and informants to monitor any potential threat of attack from terrorist groups Hezbollah, al Qaeda, and ISIS.
—CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Weathermen and Panthers held meetings together and exchanged intel about government surveillance and police informants.
—Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Zannelli stepped in as acting chief in January after Karl Jacobson abruptly filed retirement papers when he was confronted about money that was missing from the fund the department uses to pay confidential informants.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
The informants don't trust the police.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
Under constant surveillance from informants and prying neighbors, the pair must conceal their enduring love while navigating a society on the brink of collapse, and the promise of newfound freedom.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Hicks sold crack cocaine and heroin twice to undercover informants in Hammond in August 2023.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Women were central — as planners, fighters, informants, protectors, logisticians, and spiritual anchors.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
Investigators are using tools ranging from electronic surveillance — which includes the internet — undercover operations and informants to monitor any potential threat of attack from terrorist groups Hezbollah, al Qaeda, and ISIS.
—CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for informants
informers
Noun
-
And so every regime invests in having student informers.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
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Security services also rely on informers to tell them who might be using Starlink, and search internet and social media traffic for signs it has been used.—
David Rising,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Informants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/informants. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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