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
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
Last month, Elicker announced Jacobson’s retirement, saying the former chief acknowledged taking money from a city fund used to pay confidential informants who assist in narcotics investigations, according to The Associated Press.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Rios’ attorneys contend that the case had gone cold when Guevara, who at the time was a gang crimes specialist, not a homicide detective, inserted himself into the investigation by claiming two confidential informants had fingered Rios as the gunman.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
This fund is supported by the city’s general fund and is used to pay confidential informants who help with narcotics investigations.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Among his colleagues, he was known to be well sourced, with an extensive network of confidential informants who helped him close cases.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
White newspaper editors were routinely imprisoned or forced to become police informants.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
But the conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered because prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that a group of jailhouse informants was illegally used to garner incriminating statements by Smith.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
Each step—from the deployment of informants to the final interception—demonstrates how precise planning, courage, and trust among officers had been essential in dismantling a sophisticated criminal network at one of the world’s busiest airports.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Last month, Elicker announced Jacobson’s retirement, saying the former chief acknowledged taking money from a city fund used to pay confidential informants who assist in narcotics investigations, according to The Associated Press.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Rios’ attorneys contend that the case had gone cold when Guevara, who at the time was a gang crimes specialist, not a homicide detective, inserted himself into the investigation by claiming two confidential informants had fingered Rios as the gunman.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
This fund is supported by the city’s general fund and is used to pay confidential informants who help with narcotics investigations.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Among his colleagues, he was known to be well sourced, with an extensive network of confidential informants who helped him close cases.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
White newspaper editors were routinely imprisoned or forced to become police informants.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
But the conviction was overturned and a new trial was ordered because prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that a group of jailhouse informants was illegally used to garner incriminating statements by Smith.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026
Each step—from the deployment of informants to the final interception—demonstrates how precise planning, courage, and trust among officers had been essential in dismantling a sophisticated criminal network at one of the world’s busiest airports.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 14 Jan. 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 3 Mar. 2026.
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