as in investigator
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the code used by the serial killer in his letters to the police was actually cracked by an amateur detective
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detective
Within the last 30 years, the German shepherd Rex has become the ultimate four-legged detective and a worldwide phenomenon, inspiring numerous international adaptations, which add up to a total of 750 episodes.
—
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Breda, the detective, cited this as a tidy explanation for White’s alleged crime.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Police urged residents to review the footage carefully and contact detectives at 316-268-4407 with any information.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
An investigation into the stabbing remains active and ongoing by Stoneham Police detectives and Massachusetts State Police.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Breda, the detective, cited this as a tidy explanation for White’s alleged crime.
—Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Police urged residents to review the footage carefully and contact detectives at 316-268-4407 with any information.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
An investigation into the stabbing remains active and ongoing by Stoneham Police detectives and Massachusetts State Police.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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Anyone with information about the crash who has not yet spoken to investigators is asked to contact the Colorado State Patrol dispatch at 970-249-4392 and reference case VC250372.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
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Monday’s sentencing marks the end of a years-long legal battle between Laffitte and his victims, after Laffitte was reportedly the first to face federal charges as investigators looked to take down the Murdaugh empire.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The president revoked Bolton’s Secret Service detail earlier this year, even as Iranian operatives remained under an indictment for plotting to assassinate him.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Oct. 2025
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On Monday, dozens of Hamas operatives were seen at a hospital in southern Gaza during the release of Israeli hostages.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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