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
Execution-style murder Within weeks, detectives arrested Jackson, a neighbor whose fingerprints and DNA were found inside the home, according to authorities.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Following his court appearance, Evanston police detectives later took Lee into custody in connection with the Mason Park shooting, according to the report.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
According to Middletown police, detectives from the department’s Special Investigations Unit had been working on finding the girl since taking the missing person report.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
However, detectives noted that the person of interest is currently in prison for an unrelated violent case, and people should no longer be afraid to speak up.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Police said detectives later identified the Davis man as the suspect in the stabbing.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The pair of Brooklyn North narcotics detectives involved in the clash thought the man matched the description of someone who had just made a drug sale, a police source said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
When Floyd is found dead at a community pool surrounded by a poisonous cocktail and a vintage Playgirl magazine, two detectives (Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday) begin unraveling the bizarre chain of events that led to his death.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Apr. 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
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Following his court appearance, Evanston police detectives later took Lee into custody in connection with the Mason Park shooting, according to the report.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
According to Middletown police, detectives from the department’s Special Investigations Unit had been working on finding the girl since taking the missing person report.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
However, detectives noted that the person of interest is currently in prison for an unrelated violent case, and people should no longer be afraid to speak up.
—Ted Scouten, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Police said detectives later identified the Davis man as the suspect in the stabbing.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The pair of Brooklyn North narcotics detectives involved in the clash thought the man matched the description of someone who had just made a drug sale, a police source said.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
When Floyd is found dead at a community pool surrounded by a poisonous cocktail and a vintage Playgirl magazine, two detectives (Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday) begin unraveling the bizarre chain of events that led to his death.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
Noun
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At the time, federal investigators in Boston were heavily focused on violent crime, drug trafficking and organized crime cases.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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According to Diane, at the time of Denise’s disappearance, investigators searched fields and open land for any sign of her, but nothing was ever recovered.—
Sarah Dahlberg,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Years later, drawn into a covert network of operatives and manipulated through a web of corruption, Clay must decide whether to become the weapon he was shaped to be or dismantle the system from within.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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Authorities should also examine whether Allen was known to authorities and, if so, whether intelligence operatives could have pieced together his train travel and arrival in the president’s orbit, Shortland said.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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