detectives

noun

plural of detective
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detectives Detectives spoke with another psychic who first reached out to Sophie’s family before detectives followed up with them, police said, adding the psychic had offered services for free. — Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026 According to Fort Worth police, homicide detectives are investigating. — Doug Myers, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 The Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit were on scene as well as accident reconstructionist from the Groton and Ledyard police departments as well as detectives from the Groton Police Department Criminal Investigation Division. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 Late Friday, a police spokesman said Calumet Area (Area 5) detectives are conducting a criminal investigation. — Evgenia Anastasakos, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 Cynthia also thanked the KCSO detectives for finally solving the case. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026 Hicks said detectives are working to determine Williams' motives, and said the suspect's family was cooperating fully with law enforcement. — ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 The Santa Cruz Police Department announced that detectives served search warrants in Santa Cruz and Watsonville as part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting in the 500 block of Errett Circle. — Bay City News, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detectives
  1. investigators
  2. operatives
Noun
  • The affidavit in the case says investigators found three checks Fernandez Saldana wrote to Tenon in October 2022, CNN previously reported, and phone records show the men had more than 60 phone contacts with each other.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Combs has repeatedly denied any involvement in Shakur’s killing and has never been named by investigators as a suspect or even a person of interest in the case.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigators
Noun
  • The Paramount+ spy thriller, now in its third season, follows Joe, the leader of the CIA’s covert Lioness Program, which recruits female operatives to befriend women connected to high-value terrorist targets.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Mexican authorities have dismantled well over a thousand clandestine drug laboratories, seized enormous quantities of narcotics and fentanyl pills, arrested thousands of cartel operatives, and extradited major criminal figures to the United States.
    — Chris Shays, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of operatives

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Cite this Entry

“Detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detectives. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of detectives for Spanish Speakers

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