1
as in researcher
one who observes or studies by close examination and systematic inquiry
investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated
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2
as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art
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Recent Examples of investigator
Minnesota officials have also raised alarm after federal officials blocked state investigators from accessing evidence and declared that Minnesota has no jurisdiction to investigate the killing.
—
Alanna Durkin Richer, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
Laumann kept Stingley in a chokehold, several witnesses told investigators.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
More investigators arrived to document the scene and a field kit revealed the brick had tested positive for cocaine.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
Braddy’s motive, investigators say, was that he was spurned by Shandelle, who had repeatedly rejected his advances.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Alanna Durkin Richer, Twin Cities, 13 Jan. 2026
Laumann kept Stingley in a chokehold, several witnesses told investigators.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
More investigators arrived to document the scene and a field kit revealed the brick had tested positive for cocaine.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026
Braddy’s motive, investigators say, was that he was spurned by Shandelle, who had repeatedly rejected his advances.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigator
Noun
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From 2020 until the publication of the study in July 2024, Piza and a team of researchers analyzed 15 years of ShotSpotter data combined from Kansas City and Chicago, as part of federal grant funding from the National Institute for Justice.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
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That challenge has led some researchers to stop asking how to fix smell, and start asking whether its information might reach the brain another way.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nampa detectives eventually learned about Salat’s case in Ada County, where he originally was charged with three counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16, court records show.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
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Robert Marshall, lead homicide detective, added.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigator. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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