1
as in policeman
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level
a hard-bitten L.A. shamus who, when he's not battling crooks, is locking horns with his superiors
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
he's a shamus who mostly finds evidence to use in divorce cases
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shamus
When the franchise was rejuvenated in 2000 with Samuel L. Jackson starring as the nephew of the famed shamus, Roundtree appeared as his uncle.
—
Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard was one in a long line of LA shamuses tripped up by wealth and beauty, from Marlowe and Gittes to Rawlins and Bosch.
—Wired, 1 Nov. 2019
With Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright back at the creative helm (and The Hollywood Reporter columnist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the writing staff), the season picks up with Veronica (Bell) still working as a shamus in her SoCal hometown of Neptune.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 July 2019
Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard was one in a long line of LA shamuses tripped up by wealth and beauty, from Marlowe and Gittes to Rawlins and Bosch.
—Wired, 1 Nov. 2019
With Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright back at the creative helm (and The Hollywood Reporter columnist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the writing staff), the season picks up with Veronica (Bell) still working as a shamus in her SoCal hometown of Neptune.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shamus
Noun
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But Europe cannot take the United States’ place as the world’s policeman.—
Oona A. Hathaway,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
-
Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world as Trump seeks to withdraw the U.S. from its role as world policeman.—
Rob Gillies,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, back at the Marine Mammal Care Center, the scientific detective work is about to begin.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
8 July 2025
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The victim’s relatives showed detectives a photo of Ackerman and the victim in the same area the victim’s body had been located, according to an affidavit.—
Caroline Zimmerman
July 7,
Kansas City Star,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Should a birthright citizen not be held accountable for running a red light because local cops don’t have jurisdiction?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 July 2025
-
The cops were surprisingly, ostentatiously polite when the time came—when they were done waiting.—
Clare Sestanovich,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
Noun
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In its lawsuit, the agency’s investigators said Frost’s company, First Liberty Building and Loan, lied to investors about lending high-interest loans to small firms.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
11 July 2025
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The fire is being investigated by detectives with the Lake Havasu City Police Department and fire investigators.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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According to the motion, ICE officers were apparently looking for one of Orozco’s sons, who is decades younger but has the same name.—
Laura Rodríguez Presa,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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According to a social media post from Pembroke Pines Police, officers are assisting with efforts regarding the plane crash in the area of Southwest 14th Street and 68th Boulevard, just west of North Perry Airport.—
South Florida Sun Sentinel,
Sun Sentinel,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
That's perhaps because Hatch, the former Center Township constable, was removed from office in October 2024 after pleading guilty to felony official misconduct.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
20 June 2025
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The constable said Eichner was rushed to Causeway Hospital but died from her injuries a short time later.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamus. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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