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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.

Upon further investigation, detectives found that Yang and her husband were under the care of their two daughters, 52-year-old Ingrid Wu and 53-year-old Rebecca Wu.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

For years, Nicola Walker has played detectives, lawyers and women holding complicated lives together.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Counter terrorism detectives say their investigation is continuing.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

This information was passed to detectives in the interview room and the screw was turned.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Despite all this, the private detectives somehow failed to secure enough evidence to prosecute any of the suspects, or perhaps the private eyes were bought off.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann