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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The comedy that launches the action—J’s meet-cute with a woman called Parm (Karen Black) while stealing her car—soon curdles into cruel absurdity as policemen (Ed Madsen and a young Robert De Niro) force J to become an informant.—
Marina Harss,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
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Schumacher is a former policeman who created The Responder, the Martin Freeman-starring police drama that has been critically lauded.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Rescuers pulled them from the rubble around 5:45 a.m. on April 3 and rushed them to the hospital for treatment for severe burns, Southgate police detective Sgt.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2025
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The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office declined to bring charges after speaking with CMPD detectives, the department said.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Kids threw popcorn, cheered, and gave a standing ovation, refusing to settle down even as the lights came on and the cops showed up.—
Issy van der Velde,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
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The new season involves a prison break and follows a criminal group, the Phantom Gang, undertaking more daring heists while being pursued by the cops.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The IP address and phone number associated with the files belonged to Green, investigators said.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2025
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The investigator observed Wright with a 16-year-old girl, according to federal officials.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But the car, which was clocked at 96 miles per hour, eluded the officer.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
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Several officers have filed claims against Farley over harassment and inappropriate behavior.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Last November, a jury rejected his claim that Nowland posed a threat and found the former senior constable guilty of breaching his duty of care by deploying his weapon against the elderly woman, who later died of her injuries.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
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The constable’s office said the victim was flown to a hospital, where his condition is unknown.—
Mike Stunson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamus. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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