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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Plan for new Palestinian police Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty says his country is training some 5,000 new Palestinian policemen for Gaza.—
NPR,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025 -
Through the streets of World War I Paris, the bohemian artist attempts to outmaneuver bombs, policemen, girlfriends, and critics in an increasingly desperate search of a home for his art.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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California detectives alerted Miami Gardens Police, and law enforcement from several agencies began assembling to arrest Clayton.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
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The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective Travis Dalton, with assistance from other Post 4 detectives and troopers, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office and the Meade County Coroner’s Office.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The chief and his officers’ conduct, including using chemical agents on residential streets, has spurred federal lawsuits.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
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However, a few hours later, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers would find Kinsleigh near death in her mother's home.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Fox wasn't interviewed at the time, Smyth said, adding that investigators at first focused on a dispute between Jackson and his landlord.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
11 Nov. 2025
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The driver immediately stopped, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The city was going bankrupt, the cops were on strike, and a fire had wiped out telephone service in my part of the East Side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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Carver and his producing partner Udovich have spent a lot of time in Joliet, located 40 miles southwest of Chicago, with the local cops.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The law required sheriffs and constables to execute those orders — and enslavers paid them for their efforts.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The range of salaries will be $143,400 for constables and $295,564 for District Attorney Phil Sorrells, a North Richland Hills Republican.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Following her instincts, Sarah seeks out private investigators Zoë Boehm (Thompson) and her husband, Joe Silverman (Adam Godley).—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
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The insider also told THR that in the wake of the July docuseries, the Bradley family has hired private investigators with funds seemingly obtained as a result of the show.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Protests surround store opening As customers first entered the new Shein store on Wednesday, riot police officers stood watch.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
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Afterward, an ambulance carrying Jaramillo’s body in a motorcade left the hospital as dozens of police officers saluted.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shamuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamuses. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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