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 1935, Qassam and two of his followers ambushed a group of British Mandate policemen, murdering a Jewish sergeant.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025 -
To make matters even more challenging, Hansen was a local business owner whom all the policemen knew from shopping at his bakery, Rothschild told A&E True Crime in 2019.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The intensive care doctor who treated the boy told detectives the child arrived at the hospital in cardiac arrest, with a traumatic brain injury, including bleeding on the brain, bleeding of the eyes and a broken left leg, the report states.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
-
In March 2000, Jackson County drug detectives knocked on the door of a Grandview home and came out with 15 pounds of marijuana — and an informant willing to talk.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office What To Know Videos posted on social media after the shooting showed officers carrying Zinn from the scene as students can be heard screaming.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The expansive definitions of vagrancy, and the discretionary power that vagrancy laws conferred upon law enforcement officers as a result, date back to the colonial era.—
Time,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What investigators conclude about Robinson’s motivations may have far-reaching consequences beyond his own criminal case.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
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If tax records and documents do not add up, employers and employees may be arrested and detained as investigators sort out who is illegally present in the United States or illegally employing workers.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Another twist is that the roadside tests that cops use to spot drunk drivers don’t work as well for drug impairment.—
Andrew Yockey,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
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And second, these corrupt cops definitely justify the trio taking matters into their own hands on this one.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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The suit also alleges that Fox News pressures its guests not to appear on Newsmax and has hired private investigators to target Newsmax executives in an effort to drag down the channel.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to Joe Truzman, a senior analyst with the FDD, the Arrow Unit’s membership is drawn from multiple sources in Gaza, including police officers, operatives belonging to the Ministry of Interior’s security branches, fighters belonging to terrorist factions, and civilian volunteers.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Four university police officers supervised the event, setting up what appeared to be a sort of perimeter surrounding the group.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Shamuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamuses. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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