as in investigators
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the code used by the serial killer in his letters to the police was actually cracked by an amateur detective
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Recent Examples of detectives
Square-jawed detectives were tripping over corpses at midtown construction sites, blind vigilantes were redecorating Hell’s Kitchen with body parts and even poor Lester the doorman ended up dead in an Upper West Side courtyard fountain.
—
Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The office said several hundred detectives and agents are on the case.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
Following normal fatal fire protocol, Dallas police homicide detectives were notified.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
For a while, Mike Sherrill called detectives daily asking for an update.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Feb. 2026
Even as more information about the investigation is coming out, local law enforcement pushed back on claims that detectives have identified a suspect in the case.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Witnesses can also contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Following that purchase, Lower Burrell police and Westmoreland County detectives executed a search warrant and found several products that were Schedule I narcotics throughout the store.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Pima County detectives were taking it seriously and shared it with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose agents decided to share it with the NBC host, the report added.
—Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The office said several hundred detectives and agents are on the case.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
Following normal fatal fire protocol, Dallas police homicide detectives were notified.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
For a while, Mike Sherrill called detectives daily asking for an update.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Feb. 2026
Even as more information about the investigation is coming out, local law enforcement pushed back on claims that detectives have identified a suspect in the case.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Witnesses can also contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Following that purchase, Lower Burrell police and Westmoreland County detectives executed a search warrant and found several products that were Schedule I narcotics throughout the store.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Pima County detectives were taking it seriously and shared it with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose agents decided to share it with the NBC host, the report added.
—Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
-
Some accusations couldn't be verified, investigators wrote.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The sheriff’s department posted on social media to say access was restricted to the road in front of the home to give investigators space.—
Christopher Weber,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Garvey is just one of hundreds of anti-government operatives training agitators to interfere with federal law enforcement.—
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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His espionage thriller Lioness, which stars Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña as CIA operatives, is in production on its third season.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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