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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detective
Porter County detectives arrived and are investigating the circumstances surrounding Burnson’s death, according to the release.
—
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Homicide detectives also responded.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
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
During the operation, East Haven detectives and officers, probation officers and task force officers conducted coordinated enforcement actions at multiple locations in East Haven and surrounding jurisdictions, Murgo said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Homicide detectives also responded.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
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
During the operation, East Haven detectives and officers, probation officers and task force officers conducted coordinated enforcement actions at multiple locations in East Haven and surrounding jurisdictions, Murgo said.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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But Johnson-Swartz began calling and texting in the days that followed, the student told investigators.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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In a related email to Abbott, neonatologist Robert White of Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, and Pediatrix Medical Group — an investigator in the study — explained his concerns.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The man who crashed an explosive-laden truck into a Michigan synagogue where scores of children were at daycare acted as an operative of Hezbollah, the foreign terrorist organization based in Lebanon, federal officials said March 30.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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An operative would normally plan to walk alone to a hotel room to avoid being seen with an asset.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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