Thesaurus results for GUMSHOE

gumshoe

noun

ˈgəm-ˌshü

Definition of gumshoe

as in detective

a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the couple paid a gumshoe to look for their missing son

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of gumshoe Cage plays Ben Reilly, a gumshoe struggling to remain afloat in New York City in the Great Depression. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 Referring to himself with words like spy, detective, gumshoe, Wilbur pulls all kinds of sleuth-like maneuvers to find out ingredients and amounts used in the recipes. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026 When the populist demagogue Willie Stark orders Burden, journalist turned gumshoe, to dig up dirt on a local judge, Burden demurs; certainly there are no skeletons in the office of the good judge. — Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 The show will star Nicolas Cage as a gumshoe version of Spider-Man in an alternate 1930s New York City. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gumshoe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gumshoe

Noun

While searching the area, two other detectives spotted the Chevy parked at Southwest 64th Court and 88th Street.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Larry Baimbridge spent thirty-one years with the Houston Police Department, including stints as a homicide detective and as commander of the SWAT team.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of detective

Noun

The decades-long search for answers in Amy’s case inspired the couple to help establish the nonprofit, which helps to fund unsolved homicide investigations, train investigators and support victims’ families.

— Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
The footage showed the vehicles entering and exiting the site and allowed investigators to capture their vehicle identification numbers, which were forwarded to CBP, according to Earley.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of investigator

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gums

gumshoe

gumshoes

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“Gumshoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumshoe. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gumshoe

noun

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