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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The cars slid backward and would have dropped through the opening made by the raising to the abutment of the bridge if policemen had not attracted the attention of the bridge tender by firing their revolvers.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026 -
To be honest, this risk goes also to nurses, policemen, teachers, doctors, public servants.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
In 2017, detectives used DNA samples preserved from Walls' body and the area in which she was found to create an image of a person of interest, according to The Virginian-Pilot.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
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The homicide detectives took over the shooting investigation and later obtained an arrest warrant for the security guard on the voluntary manslaughter charge.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Police said officers responded to shootings involving apartment buildings and homes while going door-to-door to ensure residents had not been injured.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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Upon arrival, officers located a person with a single gunshot wound.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The investigators began by interviewing the neighbors.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Police later said investigators connected the incidents as additional shootings were reported throughout the city.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
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No arrest has been made as cops are hoping someone recognizes the suspect from the surveillance photos.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
Étienne, however, never forgets his first tussle in the woods with Bartosz (Julian Swiezewski), a Polish trucker who saves his lover’s skin when the cops show up to arrest them and other men for indecent behavior.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Noun
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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.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Jackson was involved with the show — which followed three beautiful private detectives — from the very beginning, helping Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg put together the idea after her time on The Rookies.—
Kirsten Chuba,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Troopers and Beacon Falls constables responded to the home and detained Drozdowski, state police said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
6 May 2026
-
Off stage, Benedick and Beatrice spar their way toward the aisle, while our bumbling constables take center stage.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Walking the streets asking people about her brother alongside her niece, reporting tips to police tirelessly, creating an online fundraiser and even hiring private investigators to lend a helping hand.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
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The report wasn’t news to NFL teams, which routinely employ private investigators to dig into draft prospects and compile detailed reports on their backgrounds.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Shamuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamuses. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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