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.

They do, particularly when police detectives and television crews arrive at the Pinnacle, which Mr. Mukherjee describes with the same keen wit he deploys in his Wyndham and Banerjee mystery series.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

As detectives go, he’s unusually sweet, optimistic, diplomatic, willing to give a villain a way out, closer to the Man Who Fell to Earth than to Sam Spade.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

Katie Beattie was found at home in Lancaster, Lancashire, on 1 July 2024, with detectives concluding the 27-year-old's death was not suspicious and an inquest unable to determine how she died.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

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

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Soldiers and detectives rushed to Booth’s room at the National Hotel.

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