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hawkshaw

noun

ˈhȯk-ˌshȯ How to pronounce hawkshaw (audio)
Definition of hawkshawnext
as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the firm hired a hawkshaw to find out who was fencing stock from their warehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hawkshaw
  1. detective
  2. investigator
  3. private eye
Noun
  • Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel were gathering evidence and searching for witnesses Friday afternoon.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 19 Sep. 2026
  • No one was in custody as Belmont Area detectives continued their investigation.
    — Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of detective
Noun
  • Yet investigators have struggled to connect Einhorn and Urich with either the Bild case or Qatargate.
    — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Investigating the crash The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration sent investigators on Wednesday to determine what caused the a Eurocopter AS350 B2 to go down.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of investigator
Noun
  • That’s how John Sugar goes from conscientious private eye to would-be assassin.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • There are vivid characters—the rich, distinguished crook Brandon, the platinum-blond secretary Miss Vermilyea; Javonen, ex-military intelligence, and seedy private eye from Kansas, Noble, who might have lurched out of an early Graham Greene story.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of private eye
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.

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hawkshaw
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Cite this Entry

“Hawkshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hawkshaw. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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