Synonyms of detective

detective

noun

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

• investigator
• operative
• sleuth
• dick
• gumshoe
• private investigator
• private detective
• private eye
• shamus
• sherlock
• sleuthhound
• tracer
• tracker
• hawkshaw
• Federal
• tail
• narc
• plainclothesman
• fed
• shadow
• G-man

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of detective

And the detective, from the Boise Police Department, wanted to know what Elyse meant. — Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 18 July 2026

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a law-enforcement agency known as NABU, had bugged Mindich’s apartment in Kyiv, and detectives picked up his conversations about Fire Point. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Though unusual, unorthodox and often a last resort, police departments at times call on psychics to help redirect detectives who’ve looked at the same facts and evidence time and again. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

As for the shooting on Thursday, detectives from the Aurora Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene and hospital and are investigating the incident, the news release Friday from the police department said. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

Phrases Containing detective

• private detective