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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detective
Luna also trines Pluto, with the cosmic detective in your inquisitive 9th house.
—
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Belmont Area detectives are investigating both burglaries.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Within two years, Torres’ political career was crashing down amid a scandal that surfaced publicly in October 2024 when he was detained and questioned by San Jose detectives.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
More than 1,600 tips have come in through the tipline set up in Pima County, the chief of detectives at the Pima County Attorney’s Office said.
—Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Belmont Area detectives are investigating both burglaries.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Within two years, Torres’ political career was crashing down amid a scandal that surfaced publicly in October 2024 when he was detained and questioned by San Jose detectives.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
More than 1,600 tips have come in through the tipline set up in Pima County, the chief of detectives at the Pima County Attorney’s Office said.
—Liz Kreutz, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
-
The sheriff's office confirmed investigators are looking into investigative genetic genealogy, a relatively new forensic tool made possible by the rise in popularity of consumer genetic testing, where people can send their DNA to find out about their ancestry and locate potential relatives.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The defense attorney has told the judge that Dratman and Fischer failed to call up a witness who gave investigators an alibi for Serafini on the day his wife’s parents were shot.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mexican special forces operatives and the National Guard’s Special Immediate Reaction Force then swooped into action, putting together a plan and launching a raid within the next 24 hours.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
On Sunday, cartel operatives roamed the streets with guns, hijacking cars, ordering passengers out and setting the vehicles ablaze, authorities said, part of a wave of retribution attacks.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
