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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detective
The exchange doesn’t quite go as planned, and the kidnapper and his crew are way more organized and forward-planning than the detectives anticipated, repeatedly throwing them off the trail with decoys and swaps between motorcyclists all clad in the same head-to-toe black.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate and anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or mosotips.com.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
His character was paralyzed in a shooting, later becoming the first TV detective to use a wheelchair.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 May 2025
The steely-eyed detective was born in Calabria, Italy in 1879.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate and anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or mosotips.com.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
His character was paralyzed in a shooting, later becoming the first TV detective to use a wheelchair.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 May 2025
The steely-eyed detective was born in Calabria, Italy in 1879.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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Similarly, in October 2023, Orange County investigators used the technology to identity Michael Ray Schlicht of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whose body had been found in 1974 near in unincorporated Laguna Hills, now the city of Aliso Viejo, California.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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With a fingerprint match in hand, Santa Clara County investigators and San Jose police traveled to Ohio earlier this year to collect a DNA sample from Sims, with assistance from Ashtabula County authorities.—
Bethany Brown,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
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In a display of brute aggression, cartel operatives humiliated Mexican officials by forcing the government to release Mr. Guzmán López shortly after he was captured.—
Alan Feuer,
New York Times,
7 May 2025
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For five seasons, Queen Latifah has been keeping the streets safe as former CIA operative Robyn McCall on The Equalizer — but her character's story has officially concluded.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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