gumshoes

noun

plural of gumshoe
as in detectives
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 gumshoes It’s been a decent summer so far for plucky British gumshoes. — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 30 June 2026 Chris Columbus, director of Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter films, helms the comedic caper, which follows an amiable gang of gumshoes who spend their golden years investigating cold cases. — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gumshoes
  1. detectives
  2. investigators
Noun
  • Based on witness statements, detectives identified the suspect as 35-year-old Salvador Villalaz, the Sheriff’s Office said.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
  • The police car, a silver Ford Taurus used by the investigation division, contained two Oakland police homicide detectives who were able to continue their shift after the crash, authorities said.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
Definition of detectives
Noun
  • Othram, based in The Woodlands, Texas, specializes in advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy, a method that can help investigators identify suspects or unknown victims when traditional law enforcement databases do not produce a match.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Police located and arrested the three suspects on June 30, though the investigation remains active as investigators search for any outstanding suspects.
    — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
Definition of investigators

Browse Nearby Words

gumshoe
gumshoes
gums (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Gumshoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumshoes. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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