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
Noun
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The Sheriff's Department said its Special Victims Bureau detectives are in the very early stages of their investigation.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026 -
Harrison Area detectives were investigating the deaths.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Following the alleged confession, investigators in Medina County began searching the Medina Lake area.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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With assurances of an immunity deal, David Wiley met with investigators at his attorney's office.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rockwell plays the titular Raymond Gunn, a private eye drawn into a case involving murder, aliens, and Johansson’s multimedia star Venus Nova.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
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The untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hawkshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hawkshaw. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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