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
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
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
In their investigation, detectives identified Feng as the suspect and found that there were other victims who were allegedly assaulted, authorities said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
Through their investigation, detectives recovered money, jewelry, a luxury handbag and a Wifi jamming device.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 20 May 2026
His death is under investigation by homicide detectives, Peguero Rivera said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Greenwood said detectives then looked at her social media pages and moved forward with the case.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Rivera said that detectives told her Xion was found on top of two of his little siblings after the shooting.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2025
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a 1-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in a licensed daycare center in Rancho San Diego on Tuesday.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
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
In their investigation, detectives identified Feng as the suspect and found that there were other victims who were allegedly assaulted, authorities said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 20 May 2026
Through their investigation, detectives recovered money, jewelry, a luxury handbag and a Wifi jamming device.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 20 May 2026
His death is under investigation by homicide detectives, Peguero Rivera said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Greenwood said detectives then looked at her social media pages and moved forward with the case.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Rivera said that detectives told her Xion was found on top of two of his little siblings after the shooting.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2025
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a 1-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in a licensed daycare center in Rancho San Diego on Tuesday.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
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The investigators began by interviewing the neighbors.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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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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Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González star in the film about a team of elite operatives on an impossible mission.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
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Republican Kandiss Taylor has filed to run for the seat, but her past political runs have led operatives to rule her out as a serious candidate.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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