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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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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Willis, known for portraying the policeman and sometimes a naval officer in the group, spoke with Morning Edition about the upcoming performance.—
Phil Harrell,
NPR,
20 Jan. 2025
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Nathan Howard | Reuters President Joe Biden on Sunday signed the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that clears the way for teachers, firefighters, policeman and other public sector workers who also receive pension income to receive increases in their Social Security benefits.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Lynch played the detective, and his voice and delivery is a big part of what makes this piece such a riveting, hilarious watch.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
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According to detectives, the couple made statements that concerned them during that visit, 48 Hours reports.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The bloodshed came less than three hours after 15-year-old Heath Campbell was shot in the head and a 16-year-old boy was hit in the shoulder about a mile away — on E. 93rd St. near Rutland Road in East Flatbush — just before 3:35 p.m., cops said.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
29 Jan. 2025
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Read Next National 9-year-old boy fatally shot by his stepdad, Wisconsin cops say.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The informant told investigators Melo planned to smuggle drugs onto the cruise.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
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There, investigators said the officers were met by a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female.—
Alexa Ashwell,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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If state lawmakers approve the proposal, Simpson would become the state’s chief immigration officer and would oversee how local and state law enforcement agencies enforce Trump’s immigration agenda.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2025
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Darwin Gomez, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in July for kicking one of the officers and received a 364-day jail term.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Northern policemen such as Philadelphia constable George Alberti, who actually lived not far from Still, profited by moonlighting as a kidnapper for the plantation economy.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Jan. 2025
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Lindemann has been a constable for three years and served 28 years in the Texas Department of Public Safety.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American-Statesman,
15 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near shamus
Cite this Entry
“Shamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamus. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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