as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private detective
In addition to hacking phones, the tabloids hired private detectives and encouraged journalists to lie and misrepresent themselves to gain access to highly personal data.
—
Mark Landler, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Colorado private detective Ollie Gray and his partner, John Sangustin, were hired by the Ramseys in 1999.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.
—Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2024
Bogart—best known as the swaggering nightclub owner from Casablanca and the scotch-slinging private detective from The Maltese Falcon—has been dead since the 1950s.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Mark Landler, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Colorado private detective Ollie Gray and his partner, John Sangustin, were hired by the Ramseys in 1999.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.
—Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2024
Bogart—best known as the swaggering nightclub owner from Casablanca and the scotch-slinging private detective from The Maltese Falcon—has been dead since the 1950s.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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With the Farris Wheel starting to turn, detectives asked Scott if his father was having an affair.—
Susan Mallie,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2025
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Prosecutors also said detectives recovered video footage that suggests there may be dozens, if not hundreds, of women who were victimized.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Tesla Center footage allegedly showed McIntire lighting a device, which ignites, and throwing it on a Cybertruck. McIntire then returned to the area of the witness’ home on foot and was seen leaving the area in his vehicle around 11:13 p.m., investigators said.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
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Miami Gardens’ investigators on Friday afternoon were still trying to determine who the shooter was and the circumstances of the altercation, the spokesperson said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Levitt stars in Killer Heat as Nick Bali, a private eye who travels to the Greek island of Crete to investigate the death of shipping magnate Leo Vardakis (Richard Madden), who plunged to his death during a free solo rock climb.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes,
26 Sep. 2024
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The film closes with Stephanie thriving as a successful vlogger and part-time private eye while Emily, ever the con artist, adjusts to life in prison.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Prosecutors added that Zhu hired McMahon, who was working as a private investigator, to locate the man.—
Krystal Nurse,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Justice Department investigation has focused recently on an Israeli private investigator named Amit Forlit whom federal prosecutors are trying to extradite from the United Kingdom for allegedly orchestrating the hacking.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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