detectives

NOUN

investigator of crime

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agent informer police officer private eye private investigator prosecutor reporter sleuth spy

STRONG

analyst bloodhound bull constable cop dick eavesdropper eye fed fink flatfoot gumshoe nark peeper roper scout sergeant shadow shamus shoofly snoop tail

WEAK

P. I. Sherlock Holmes bird dog plainclothes officer slewfoot

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

detectives

Green told the BBC detectives were initially sceptical that 50 Cent was supporting Hassan's bail application, which the judge turned down.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

When detectives raided the Los Angeles area hotel where Ying was staying, they found blank manuscripts in the style of the books that had been checked out.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

Indeed, that was effectively unknowable because, as the NYPD’s chief of detectives told reporters, they had learned that the bomb could’ve been timed to go off anywhere in the 12 hours prior to actual detonation.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Irvine police said detectives used “extensive surveillance and evidence gathering” to lead them to the suspects.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Desperate for a break, the private detectives decided to install a listening device to eavesdrop on Rose and her boyfriend.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann