informers
Those who tell
Informers are people who provide information to authorities, especially about criminal activity or the actions of others.
The term usually carries a negative connotation—informers betray associates or neighbors, often for money or to avoid punishment themselves.
The police relied on informers within the gang.
Synonyms like snitch, rat, and stool pigeon share this taint of disloyalty.
One who tells authorities
- ratRodent or informer
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
sellout · Judas · defector · renegade · backstabber · double-cross · treachery · disloyalty
Point of origin
- tipEnd or gratuity
- scoopFirst-reported story
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- reporterOne who gathers news
correspondent · journalist · editor · investigative · confidential · off-the-record · background · attribution
Escape through a breach
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- witnessOne who attests
corruption · accountability · transparency · protection · retaliation · anonymity · Snowden · revelation
Covert information gatherer
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- agentOne who acts independently
- assetItem of value owned
- operativeCovert field agent
handler · sleeper · intelligence · counterintelligence · surveillance · infiltration · covert · clandestine
One who attests
- cooperatorOne who works jointly
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- immunityProtected from harm
protection · statement · evidence · gang · cartel · mafia · underworld · federal
snitch
One who tells authorities
betrayer · sellout · Judas · defector · renegade · backstabber · double-cross · treachery · disloyalty · perfidy
source
Point of origin
reporter · correspondent · journalist · editor · investigative · confidential · off-the-record · background · attribution · anonymous
leak
Escape through a breach
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
witness · corruption · accountability · transparency · protection · retaliation · anonymity · Snowden · revelation · evidence
spy
Covert information gatherer
operative · handler · sleeper · intelligence · counterintelligence · surveillance · infiltration · covert · clandestine · tradecraft
witness
One who attests
- cooperatorOne who works jointly
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
immunity · protection · statement · evidence · gang · cartel · mafia · underworld · federal · indictment
- 1798 Rebellionpikemen, pikes, insurgents, French invasion, Wexford
- Apartheidapartheid, pass laws, Group Areas Act, passbook, passbooks
- WhistleblowersEdward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, Deep Throat, leakers, exposers
- Low Countries WWIIArnhem, Bastogne, Antwerp, Brussels, Battle of the Bulge
- Danish WWIIGerman occupation, Nazi invasion, Copenhagen, rescue, Gestapo
- Eastern BlocEastern Bloc, communist regime, Warsaw Pact, Iron Curtain, Soviet Union
informersloyalists
Faithful to established authority
true believers · stalwarts · ride-or-die · comrades · stand-up guys
informersconcealers
Products that mask blemishes
protectors · guardians · tight-lipped · obstructors · stonewalls
informersstand-up guys
Trustworthy, loyal individuals
soldiers · made men · untouchables · enforcers · accomplices
uninformed, informer, misinformed, overinformed, underinformed