1
as in policemen
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level
a hard-bitten L.A. shamus who, when he's not battling crooks, is locking horns with his superiors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in detectives
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
he's a shamus who mostly finds evidence to use in divorce cases
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shamuses
Noun
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My grand plan was to be one of the policemen in one of the episodes.
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Disgruntled, the policemen stormed out of the house.
Noun
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Police said there were no signs of trauma or foul play and homicide detectives are investigating.
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On June 12, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Pollock on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police said.
Noun
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One of the stops captured in police body camera video shows local officers talking about targeting work vans for ICE — vehicles associated with construction, landscaping and other industries reliant on immigrant labor.
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California State Parks peace officers responded and searched the area with the help of a California Department of Fish and Wildlife warden and animal control officers.
Noun
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On May 1, investigators served a search warrant and seized evidence.
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Anyone with more information regarding the incident was asked to contact the SBSD Homicide Detail investigators at 909-890-4904.
Noun
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No criminal charges have been filed against McCarthy or any of the other cops who had their homes searched Wednesday.
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Ten thousand cops were deployed to the financial district; access for paradegoers was limited to twenty-three checkpoints.
Noun
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Meanwhile, private detectives probed Hadley’s vulnerabilities as a witness.
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The trio took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as part of a PaleyFest event commemorating five decades of Charlie's Angels, the groundbreaking ABC series that followed a group of female private detectives.
Noun
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Troopers and Beacon Falls constables responded to the home and detained Drozdowski, state police said.
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Off stage, Benedick and Beatrice spar their way toward the aisle, while our bumbling constables take center stage.
Noun
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Depending on the circumstances, this may include private investigators, attorneys, cybersecurity professionals, exchanges, regulators or law enforcement agencies.
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Ever since Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, fans have turned into part-time wedding planners, part-time private investigators and full-time internet detectives.
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Cite this Entry
“Shamuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamuses. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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