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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In the last section of her piece Didion pivots to a more writerly register, drawing out how policemen have become unreliable narrators in the public square.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025 -
While Kardashian was staying at the No Address Hotel for Paris Fashion Week, five men dressed as policemen allegedly broke into her room and tied up her hands and feet before putting her in a bathtub.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Summit County Sheriff's Office SCSO says detectives discovered electronic messages sent by Zabik detailing plans and a timeline to carry out a mass shooting in the county.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Additionally, detectives believe McCray and Asendorf knew each other prior to the alleged murder, according to WSVN.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The officers and the homeowner were not injured in the incident, police said.—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities said some of the victims were transported by private vehicle to a local hospital before officers arrived on scene.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The investigators and May expressed concern that DeCristo had not addressed her actions.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Parents of students with disabilities have increasingly resorted to filing complaints with the state over their schools’ failure to educate their children, and most of the time, state investigators have agreed.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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 9 Jan. 2026.
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