gumshoe

noun

ˈgəm-ˌshü How to pronounce gumshoe (audio)
Definition of gumshoenext
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
  1. detective
  2. investigator
Noun
  • Michelle Monaghan plays detective Amanda Beck, with Hamish Linklater and Owen Teague also starring.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Psychiatrists need to be good detectives during the entire process, even after a patient is on a medicine.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of detective
Noun
  • At Fox Hollow, investigators started with remains but few clues about their identities.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Joseph Weiss was charged in 2023 with lying to federal investigators about his brother’s reputed mob ties, including his previous contacts with Schweihs and Dominic.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigator

Browse Nearby Words

gums
gumshoe
gumshoes
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Cite this Entry

“Gumshoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumshoe. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gumshoe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gumshoe

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