as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleuth
Social media sleuths have gathered clues that allegedly tie D4vd, legal name David Anthony Burke, to the victim.
—
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But when internet sleuths teased out that Fulmer was having an affair with a Try Guys employee, the drama exploded from a private matter into a public spectacle, ending with Fulmer leaving the group after a public apology.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
However, once the series took over everyone’s TVs, some internet sleuths determined that their family trees do not cross.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
As law enforcement continue the search, online sleuths began hypothesizing about the suspect's escape from the scene, leading some to the Provo Airport (PVU), a public-use regional airfield less than 15 minutes drive from UVU’s campus.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But when internet sleuths teased out that Fulmer was having an affair with a Try Guys employee, the drama exploded from a private matter into a public spectacle, ending with Fulmer leaving the group after a public apology.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
However, once the series took over everyone’s TVs, some internet sleuths determined that their family trees do not cross.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
As law enforcement continue the search, online sleuths began hypothesizing about the suspect's escape from the scene, leading some to the Provo Airport (PVU), a public-use regional airfield less than 15 minutes drive from UVU’s campus.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
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The second season is set to bow next year with Hodge set to return as the iconic detective.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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During his confession, Jones said the Nestors hired him to clean around their business — and told detectives what led up to the killings.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hamilton County Coroner's Office investigators are looking for relatives or friends of a West End woman who died recently.—
Enquirer staff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
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In mid-2020, investigators had a major breakthrough.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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