My neighbor found a cache of ancient Roman coins using his metal detector.
Source: tatoeba (612258)
Detector
Synonyms for "detector" (58 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (12)
Noun(6 words)
Strong matches (17)
electric thermometerelectronic counterelectronic detectorerror correctorerror detectorgalvanothermometergas thermometergeneratorliquid-level sensormeat thermometer
Noun(7 words)
Related words (29)
metal detectorpartsphotoelectric sorterpyrometerpyrometric coneradarradar partsradio receiverrelayresistance pyrometersensortelethermometertemperature sensorthermocouplethermoelectrometerthermometrographthermostattubeultrasonic detector
Noun(9 words)
Adjective(1 words)
optical parts
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: sensor, amplifier, analytical chemistry instrument, anomaly detector, calorimeter.
- Sentence evidence is available for detector, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "detector".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "detector"
Keep "detector" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "detector" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "detector", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "detector" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
8 entriesfraud detectorgas detectorintrusion detectormetal detectorparticle detectorpattern detectorradiation detectorsmoke detector
Collocations
6 entriesdetector arraygas detectormetal detectorparticle detectorradiation detectorsmoke detector
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
28 translations across 24 languages.
Belarusian
1 entries- дэтэ́ктар noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Bulgarian
1 entries- дете́ктор noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 檢測儀 /检测仪 noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Czech
1 entries- detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Danish
1 entries- detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Finnish
2 entries- ilmaisin noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
- tunnistin noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
French
1 entries- détecteur noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
German
1 entries- Detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Greek
1 entries- ανιχνευτής noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Hebrew
1 entries- גלאי noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Hindi
1 entries- डिटेक्टर noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Indonesian
1 entries- detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Irish
1 entries- brathadóir noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Malay
1 entries- pengesan noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Māori
2 entries- paerongo noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
- pūoko noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Norwegian Nynorsk
1 entries- detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Polish
2 entries- detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
- wykrywacz noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Portuguese
2 entries- detector noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
- detetor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Romanian
1 entries- detector noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Russian
1 entries- дете́ктор noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Swedish
1 entries- detektor noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Tagalog
1 entries- paniktik noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Ukrainian
1 entries- дете́ктор noun (device capable of registering a specific substance or physical phenomenon)
Sample sentences
11 total sentences available.
The results of a lie detector test are inadmissible in court.
Source: tatoeba (632123)
The only metal that a metal detector can detect is the metal in another metal detector. That fact was instrumental in my parents' meeting.
Source: tatoeba (697685)
The script Tatoeba needs the most is the native speaker detector.
Source: tatoeba (1360049)
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "detector"?
Closest matches include sensor, amplifier, analytical chemistry instrument, anomaly detector, calorimeter.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "detector"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.