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.

Henderson said that detectives and specialist officers were supporting the victim and his family "at this difficult time".

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

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

The eight were among 30 students who were initially traced and recalled back to the school by detectives investigating the deadly fire.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

From New York City came an offer of help, twelve hours after Stanton had asked its chief of police to send his finest detectives to Washington to help track the president’s killer.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson