1
as in law
the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes
the appearance of a ransom note meant that the teenager's disappearance was now a matter for the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in constabulary
a body of officers of the law
the National Guard will serve as backup for the metropolitan police in the event of violent protests
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to control
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 police
Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Experts say the three surviving men and Pierce’s family could pursue lawsuits against the city of Austin over the police investigation and against Travis County over prosecutorial decisions.
—Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Residents turned in five guns to police on the first day.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for police
Noun
Ahmad was previously arrested for strangulation in a domestic violence incident in 2023 and for robbery in 2014, police said.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Experts say the three surviving men and Pierce’s family could pursue lawsuits against the city of Austin over the police investigation and against Travis County over prosecutorial decisions.
—Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
Each of the four people who’d been sleeping inside the house on Pleasure Point Drive that night gave lengthy statements to police.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
Residents turned in five guns to police on the first day.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for police
Recent Examples of Synonyms for police
Noun
-
The bank would only speak hypothetically about when the bank closes accounts and its reasons for closing accounts, citing bank privacy laws.—
Ken Sweet,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
One new state law enacted in 2024 set requirements for oil and gas companies to plug certain percentages of their idle wells each year — between 5% and 15% each year at first, but larger shares after 2027.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The local constabulary said the British Transport Police was leading the investigation.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The decision was made on the advice of West Midlands Police, the constabulary with responsibility for overseeing security at the match.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There is no specific rule about who qualifies for the honor, a decision controlled by concurrence from both the House and Senate.—
MATT BROWN,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
First, Iran would have to be able to control the strait after a strike.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These transistors were then assembled into a fully working radio-frequency (RF) communication system operating between 12 and 18 gigahertz.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Currently, companies only have to pay $300 and show proof of insurance to become registered to operate, and they might not be audited until a year or more later.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The American Water Works Association, a utility industry association, had challenged the rule in court, arguing the EPA lacks authority to regulate the portion of the pipe that’s on private property and therefore cannot require water systems to replace them.—
Michael Phillis,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, eating fiber helps regulate blood sugar, cholesterol, and digestion, and supports feelings of fullness.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump’s direction of the hospital ship to Greenland comes shortly after NATO began boosting its defense in the Arctic, largely conducting military drills.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Kneeland, 24, had sent text messages that prompted the team’s chief of security to request police conduct a welfare check on Kneeland.—
Mike Wilson,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 endangerment finding effectively terminates the greenhouse gas standards that governed automakers for more than a decade and a half.—
Julian Torres,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The same law also prompted state agencies that govern colleges and universities in 2024 to remove introductory sociology from Florida’s core course list.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Discovery Princess has a dedicated environmental officer to manage onboard sustainability efforts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
-
How are the nominees managing after months and months (and months) of campaigning?—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Police.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/police. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
