as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private investigator
The report has been circulating in Louisiana for months, according to people familiar with the effort to uncover it, and last fall, a private investigator requested public records related to the woman that have since been used to try to undermine her credibility.
—
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Heather had a friend who was training to be a private investigator.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Joe Gibbs Racing hired a private investigator to follow former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, according to recent court declarations in the ongoing federal lawsuit JGR is pursuing against Gabehart and Spire.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
But Art Tilis, a private investigator and former SFPD and UCSF police officer who now provides executive protection services, said Lurie should have stepped in to help the officer take control of the man, especially if no weapons were involved.
—J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Heather had a friend who was training to be a private investigator.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Joe Gibbs Racing hired a private investigator to follow former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, according to recent court declarations in the ongoing federal lawsuit JGR is pursuing against Gabehart and Spire.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
But Art Tilis, a private investigator and former SFPD and UCSF police officer who now provides executive protection services, said Lurie should have stepped in to help the officer take control of the man, especially if no weapons were involved.
—J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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On Tuesday night, Orosco flew back to the United States, escorted by Miami-Dade Sheriff's detectives and the FBI.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Days after the incident, detectives received pictures and messages from Smith’s Snapchat account indicating an arrangement between Williams and Smith to purchase marijuana.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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He was last seen running near the outdoor gear store Cabela's, but investigators learned the suspect fled the complex in an unknown direction.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Those statements included details that only someone involved in the killing would know, investigators said.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 21,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Stanley also has a series on private detective Miranda Corbie set in pre-World War II San Francisco.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
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Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.—
Rebecca Rosman,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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Princess Lilibet and her brother, Prince Archie, 6, are often kept out of the private eye by their parents, but the siblings have recently been featured in a number of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's photos — and some of their philanthropic work.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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