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

The scripts were written based on their own reporting, including court documents, investigation transcripts, and interviews with detectives, witnesses, and even Laurie Valdez, an old friend of Wuornos’ who’d never previously spoken with the press.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
Sharon Raydor, played by Mary McDonnell, in charge of her team, an endearing, quirky crew of veteran detectives who show up en masse at every crime scene like Mystery Incorporated.

— Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of detective

Noun

The first trial of Payton and Dandrae Martin lasted weeks and included extensive testimony from police investigators, gang experts and the defendants themselves.

— Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
By that time, investigators had run down anonymous tips, interviewed witnesses and contacted attorneys hired by the accused, the documents show.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of investigator

Browse Nearby Words

gums

gumshoe

gumshoes

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“Gumshoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumshoe. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gumshoe

noun

Example Sentences

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