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
Holmes, Margaret and Poe run the private detective agency that solves the crimes no one else can.
—
Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Daniel Craig is back as private detective Benoit Blanc, with Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church all part of the ensemble.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 9 July 2025
After Beom-jun leaves the hospital against medical advice, Ju-yeon uses the private detective agency to switch out Beom-jun’s pain medication for fentanyl.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
Taylor Russell is already on board as a suave private detective.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Daniel Craig is back as private detective Benoit Blanc, with Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church all part of the ensemble.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 9 July 2025
After Beom-jun leaves the hospital against medical advice, Ju-yeon uses the private detective agency to switch out Beom-jun’s pain medication for fentanyl.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
Taylor Russell is already on board as a suave private detective.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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The boy was later taken into custody at Shawnee High School and questioned by detectives, but was released after police determined he was not involved.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
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The film stars Smith as a detective in a near-future utopia in which humanity is served by a legion of compliant robots.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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After working with a local towing company to remove the car from the water, investigators then matched the car’s vehicle identification number to Roy Benn, who went missing in September 1967, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.—
Gordon Ebanks,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
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Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators call detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the department’s anonymous tip-line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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On one level, Resuscitation of a Hanged Man is a private eye novel.—
Dwyer Murphy
June 24,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
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The idea of a lesbian private eye isn’t even that new either, since Jess Franco had two in a pair of his most enjoyable exploitation movies (Sadisterotika and Kiss Me, Monster, both 1969).—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
24 May 2025
Noun
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As his story gained traction, even a private investigator reached out to help find the lost dog.—
Luke Chinman,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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The family's private investigator, Carl DeFazio, told Fox News Digital that the couple went boating the day before the tech executive went missing.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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