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
Crime writers take this classic relationship and run with it, using intergenerational detective duos to explore personality differences, changing times and the different stages of life.
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Liza Tully, People.com, 6 July 2025
No one was in custody for any of the fatal shootings and detectives were investigating.
—Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2025
In his sixth year — 1992 — Ambrose was promoted to detective.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
No arrests had been made as an investigation by Calumet Area detectives was underway.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Liza Tully, People.com, 6 July 2025
No one was in custody for any of the fatal shootings and detectives were investigating.
—Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2025
In his sixth year — 1992 — Ambrose was promoted to detective.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 4 July 2025
No arrests had been made as an investigation by Calumet Area detectives was underway.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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In its lawsuit, the agency’s investigators said Frost’s company, First Liberty Building and Loan, lied to investors about lending high-interest loans to small firms.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
11 July 2025
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Near his body, the Kommersant newspaper reported, investigators found a Glock pistol that Starovoit had been given as an award.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The North Korean cyber operatives often take on projects involving virtual currency exchanges, enabling them to more easily launder money back to the regime, undetected.—
July 8,
CBS News,
8 July 2025
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Aside from covert operatives launching short-range drones from within Iran to strike strategic targets, Israel also relied overwhelmingly on its airpower to hit strategic and leadership targets during the campaign.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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