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
Igoe said homicide detectives and crimes scene investigators were at the scene.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Fort Lauderdale detectives said Monday that Powell shot and wounded another woman, who was not named by police, earlier on the same day of Heller’s killing.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The Hobart detective looked at Krajewski, who Valparaiso had already pinned as a suspect and had arrested on prior bomb threats and swatting calls.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
But a task force of Pima County homicide detectives and FBI agents remains on the investigation.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Fort Lauderdale detectives said Monday that Powell shot and wounded another woman, who was not named by police, earlier on the same day of Heller’s killing.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The Hobart detective looked at Krajewski, who Valparaiso had already pinned as a suspect and had arrested on prior bomb threats and swatting calls.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
But a task force of Pima County homicide detectives and FBI agents remains on the investigation.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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Anyone with further information was encouraged to contact investigator Manny Milian by calling Riverside Sheriff's dispatch at (951) 776-1099 or the Perris Sheriff's Station at (951) 210-1000.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Federal investigators said their review uncovered broader violations, concluding the district also allowed male students to access female-only facilities and compete on girls teams.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Over a roughly three-month investigation, Nisos uncovered an apparent network of at least 20 North Korean operatives including Jo who had collectively applied to at least 160,000 roles.—
Lisa Cavazuti,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
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The government did not specify the number of casualties, but the Kanam Development Association (KADA), a local group, claimed 20 personnel, including two senior military officers and eight local security operatives, were killed in the ambush.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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