police 1 of 2

noun

Definition of policenext
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

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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

police

2 of 2

verb

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
Noun
Paris — Students fought running battles with police and several schools were ablaze Friday as a new day of violence gripped France with no end in sight to protests that have rocked the country. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 Charged with murder are Ar’montae Johnson, 16; Jaylen Vontae Barber, 16; Antonio Kahron Ladson, 17; and Ian Garland, 17, police said. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
Authorities, though, had not been able to positively identify him until a missing persons report was made to police earlier this month. — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 In a weekend post responding to Amodei's essay, Sacks, a venture capitalist with investments in AI startups, said the two leading model developers should police themselves rather than asking the government to do it. — Lora Kolodny,jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for police
Recent Examples of Synonyms for police
  1. law
  2. constabulary
  3. control
  4. operate
  5. regulate
  6. conduct
  7. govern
  8. manage
Noun
  • Pan, a pediatrician, made national headlines while in the Legislature for leading California’s efforts to enact strict school vaccine laws.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The president and his allies have insisted that existing liability laws offer enough protections.
    — Jeff Masonand Michael Shepard Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of law
Noun
  • Meanwhile, police forces across the country have transformed from lightly armed constabularies to small-scale armies.
    — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Several British constabularies have added EVs to their fleets for urban policing duties, often using models such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Definition of constabulary
Verb
  • While the Houthis control most of the people, the PLC controls most of the resources and money.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The new company will be controlled by the Ellison family alongside Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Verb
  • Unitary status means the district is operating fairly and providing equal opportunities to all students.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Europe’s ability to meet rising electricity demand, including the power needed to operate AI data centers, Andersen notes, depends on solving its energy dependency problem.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of operate
Verb
  • Earlier this year, the administration rescinded the 2009 Endangerment Finding, claiming the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
    — Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Four add-ons—acupuncture, intralipid infusion (fat injections intended to regulate the immune system) and platelet-rich-plasma (PRP), or blood injections, in the uterus and ovaries—had either mixed evidence or low quality data backing them up.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of regulate
Verb
  • The new estimates update older research to investigate cancer and infections that was conducted in 2018.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Before applying for a permit, individuals must also consult with a DEEP Wildlife Division Biologist, who will conduct a site visit and may have additional nonlethal tips.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of conduct
Verb
  • Bolsonaro, 45, is competing in his first and seeking to return his family name to power after his father governed Brazil from 2019 through 2022.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The founding mayors lead cities including Atlanta, Jacksonville, Boise, Tulsa and Memphis -- governing more than 7 million Americans across 11 red and purple states, according to a memo for the new coalition.
    — Isabella Murray, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of govern
Verb
  • The captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker.
    — SAM MEDNICK, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The new company will be controlled by the Ellison family alongside Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of manage

Phrases Containing police

Browse Nearby Words

polestars
police
police action
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Cite this Entry

“Police.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/police. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on police

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about police

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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