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
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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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Some of the policemen were busy convincing men with rifles who had positioned themselves in between the houses along West Sullivan Street, facing the school, to hold their fire.—
Sally Ventura
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
-
Baruchel will play Jacob Merrick, a small-town policeman.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
No arrests had been made as an investigation by Calumet Area detectives was underway.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2025
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Based on a preliminary investigation, detectives believe other women also may have been assaulted by Palacios, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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The Venetian police’s hybrids, recently aquired, are by Huracan Marine, designed to run on diesel when the cops need bursts of speed, and on electricity when slow cruising is required.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
People occasionally call the cops on Romeo and Juliet.—
David Lei,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Fishy past Two decades ago, federal investigators alleged Marky’s was one of those companies caught in black market dealings.—
Kylie Williams,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2025
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State and city fire investigators say the Saddleridge fire began under one of those towers.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Noun
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The new ban includes exemptions for expressing constitutional rights, obstructing access when disabled, requesting emergency aid, and complying with an officer’s directives to leave or accept services.—
Tim Clouser,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
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If officers are promoted based on loyalty instead of merit, then our fighting forces will be less effective.—
Time,
Time,
1 July 2025
Noun
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The constable’s office was notified of the inappropriate request June 10 when the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force came into contact with Slusher’s request, officials said in a news release.—
Kate Linderman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2025
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The constable threw her convulsing body over the back of a horse and carted her to county lines.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shamus. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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