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
In the Cross crime drama, Hodge plays a brilliant homicide detective and forensic psychologist who digs into the minds of serial killers to identify and catch them.
—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2026
Belmont Area detectives were investigating.
—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police detectives have charged three people in a murder case that is nearly a decade old.
—
Ryan Oehrli
june 23,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
Exactly why detectives are honing in on those two key dates remains unclear.
—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2026
Belmont Area detectives were investigating.
—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police detectives have charged three people in a murder case that is nearly a decade old.
—
Ryan Oehrli
june 23,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
Exactly why detectives are honing in on those two key dates remains unclear.
—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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Police say Crash Team investigators responded and assumed control over the investigation.
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And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.
Noun
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Dunlap launched an insurgent campaign to challenge Golden in 2025, prompting a backlash from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as Democratic lawmakers and operatives who suggested Dunlap could not win the rural, conservative-leaning seat.
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That same year, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected was killed in Spain, with Russian operatives as the prime suspects.
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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