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

But after the Sheriff’s Department released a bulletin calling for other possible victims to come forward, detectives learned of several additional burglaries possibly linked to Lavie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

He added that detectives want to speak with anyone with information the woman's death.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Watching from the gallery were several detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division and Halem’s sister, who wiped tears from her eyes as the sentence was read aloud.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Stivers and his detectives arrived at Nancy’s house in the late afternoon on Sunday, Feb. 1.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

But when we told the detectives about his job they looked at me and Mama like we were crazy.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston