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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of investigator
Police investigated, but the case went cold for five decades until DNA and genealogy recently led investigators to a suspect.
—
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Authorities declined further comment, directing additional questions to federal investigators.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Authorities declined further comment, directing additional questions to federal investigators.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigator
Noun
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The researchers tried this and coined the technique as activation capping.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
First researchers had to ascertain that all the bones came from the same individual and that the individual was from the species.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Area Four detectives are investigating.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
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As the focus is very much on police work, the narrative tends to lend itself to detective-type stories, with the main characters being very much the underdogs of the Japanese police force.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigator. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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