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.

Approximately 4,000 officers will be deployed, including 660 from other forces across England and Wales, with specialist traffic units, mounted officers, dogs, helicopters, drones, detectives, and specialist armed vehicles available as a high-level contingency.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Police are asking auto repair shops to contact detectives if anyone recently brought in a sedan matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Nicole Nishida, a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, confirmed that department detectives had submitted a criminal investigation on April 23 to the district attorney’s office into the deadly grenade incident.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

A short court appearance in Los Angeles on Wednesday revealed the first full accounting of what detectives believe happened to Celeste, who had been reported missing from her home east of Los Angeles.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Comstock—the attorney and guardian who, despite Hoover’s initial suspicions, had proven to be trustworthy—had also tried to assist the private detectives investigating the murders.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann