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
Nice to see Michael Beach, as a detective, too.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The book is based in part on the authors' relationships with Nashville police detectives Bill Pridemore and Pat Postiglione.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Noel Browne recently retired as a detective inspector and a senior investigations officer with An Garda Síochána.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Undercover detectives found and followed the vehicle to a Speedway gas station where Benefiel's mother and two other men were parked at a pump.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The book is based in part on the authors' relationships with Nashville police detectives Bill Pridemore and Pat Postiglione.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
Noel Browne recently retired as a detective inspector and a senior investigations officer with An Garda Síochána.
—Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Undercover detectives found and followed the vehicle to a Speedway gas station where Benefiel's mother and two other men were parked at a pump.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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No injuries were reported, but investigators recovered two pieces of shrapnel measuring approximately one to two inches long.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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French authorities swarmed the museum in the 24 hours following, with photographs from outside the famed museum showing forensics investigators searching the scene for clues.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The president revoked Bolton’s Secret Service detail earlier this year, even as Iranian operatives remained under an indictment for plotting to assassinate him.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Oct. 2025
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On Monday, dozens of Hamas operatives were seen at a hospital in southern Gaza during the release of Israeli hostages.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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