Thesaurus results for PRIVATE EYE

private eye

noun

Definition of private eye

as in detective

a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of private eye With the Christmas action hit under his belt and the private eye dramedy’s cancellation in 1989, the actor moved into film work full-time. — Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova. — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 Daniel was with Caron from the very beginning of Moonlighting, which starred Shepherd as Maddie Hayes, owner of the struggling Blue Moon Detective Agency, and Bruce Willis as David Addison, the playful private eye who goes to work for her. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026 Nicolas Cage, in his first live-action television role, plays Ben Reilly, a down-at-the-heels private eye, spiking his morning coffee with whiskey helpfully provided by his knowing secretary, Janet (Karen Rodriguez), and barely scraping by on the occasional divorce case. — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for private eye

Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye

Noun

Several hours later, detectives were notified by medical staff that the man died from his injuries.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026
The officers replayed bodycam video of their encounter to O'Neill's brother, who told detectives the man in the video was not his brother.

— Logan Smith, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of detective

Noun

Chrinos told investigators that the truck belonged to his boss, who had lent it to him, the affidavit said.

— Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2026
Aguilar also testified that investigators searched federal and state computerized fingerprint databases without finding a match.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of investigator

Noun

Did someone get a private detective, or is the Daily Mail working around the clock?

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
In the mid-1990s, Bob Bartel, a Chicago native and sometime private detective and full-time Beatles nut, heard Louise speak at a fan convention about George’s vacation in Benton.

— Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of private detective

Noun

New details were released Tuesday about the death of Heather Turner, as a private investigator hired by her family publicly refuted local law enforcement's official ruling of suicide.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Henry’s family are concerned enough to have sent in their own smarmy private investigator, Rapp (Noah Reid), though not quite concerned enough to cut short their own business trip to Japan.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of private investigator

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privateers

private eye

private eyes

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“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of private eye

noun

Example Sentences

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