informer
Tells on others
An informer is someone who secretly provides information to authorities, especially about criminal activity.
The word carries connotations of betrayal—an informer is typically seen as disloyal to their community or associates: The gang suspected there was an informer in their ranks.
Police informers trade information for money, leniency, or protection.
The term is slightly more formal than synonyms like snitch or rat.
Rodent or informer
- finkContemptible informer
- squealerOne who betrays secrets
- tattletaleOne who informs on others
- narkPolice tipster, slang
stoolie · canary · tipster · betrayer · traitor · backstabber · turncoat · double-crosser
Covert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- assetItem of value owned
- sourcePoint of origin
- operativeCovert field agent
handler · mole · surveillance · undercover · covert · infiltrator · contact · network
End or gratuity
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- clueSolving aid
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
police · identify · track · probe · expose · uncover · surveillance · case
Make known publicly
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- leakEscape through a breach
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- transparencyState of being see-through
accountability · insider · evidence · corruption · ethics · protection · courage · truth
One who attests
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- plea dealNegotiated criminal case resolution
- immunityProtected from harm
protection · cartel · mafia · gang · cooperator · trial · evidence · organized crime
rat
Rodent or informer
- finkContemptible informer
- squealerOne who betrays secrets
- tattletaleOne who informs on others
nark · stoolie · canary · tipster · betrayer · traitor · backstabber · turncoat · double-crosser · blabbermouth
spy
Covert information gatherer
operative · handler · mole · surveillance · undercover · covert · infiltrator · contact · network · counterintelligence
tip
End or gratuity
detective · police · identify · track · probe · expose · uncover · surveillance · case · suspect
expose
Make known publicly
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- leakEscape through a breach
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
transparency · accountability · insider · evidence · corruption · ethics · protection · courage · truth · dissent
witness
One who attests
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- plea dealNegotiated criminal case resolution
immunity · protection · cartel · mafia · gang · cooperator · trial · evidence · organized crime · kingpin
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- communismMarx, Marxism, Leninism, Lenin, proletariat
- Informerssnitch, fink, squealer, narc, stool pigeon
- snitchessnitching, telling, ratting, squealing, blabbing
- whistleblowingleak, leaker, expose, hotline, disclosure form
- WWII OccupationNazi occupation, occupied territory, occupation zone, Vichy France, Vichy
informerloyalist
Faithful supporter of authority
supporter · true believer · stalwart · ride-or-die · confederate
informerconfidant
Trusted keeper of secrets
protector · concealer · stonewaller · obstructor · silencer
informerhandler
One who manages something
spymaster · case officer · intelligence officer · interrogator · secret keeper
- too much informationUnwanted personal disclosure
- personal informationIdentifying details about someone
- contact informationDetails for reaching someone
- for your information
- inside informationConfidential knowledge from sources
- information technologiesDigital data management systems
inform, information, misinformation, uninformed, informative, informing, informant, informs, misinform