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
The publisher has argued that evidence from private detectives can't be trusted.
—
Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
The private detective Snider hired to tail Dorothy and Bogdanovich, Marc Goldstein, had, according to a suit filed by Bogdanovich and the Stratten estate, stolen Dorothy’s diaries and other personal effects, sold them to a studio.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
That is not a slight against Craig, whose ’90s-boy-band bangs and Foghorn Leghorn accent make private detective Benoit Blanc a delightful iconoclast.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Down Cemetery Road Cast Emma Thompson leads the cast as private detective Zoë Boehm.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
The private detective Snider hired to tail Dorothy and Bogdanovich, Marc Goldstein, had, according to a suit filed by Bogdanovich and the Stratten estate, stolen Dorothy’s diaries and other personal effects, sold them to a studio.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
That is not a slight against Craig, whose ’90s-boy-band bangs and Foghorn Leghorn accent make private detective Benoit Blanc a delightful iconoclast.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Down Cemetery Road Cast Emma Thompson leads the cast as private detective Zoë Boehm.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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The detective recalled a 2023 killing in North Hollywood that started when a pedestrian carrying grocery bags got into an argument with a motorist whose truck blocked the sidewalk.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call KCPD homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Between February 27 and March 2, the investigators found and arrested four suspects.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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In plain terms, investigators have been told to file paperwork and wait in line.—
Vaughn Stewart,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Inspired by her father’s work as a private eye, Eliza (Phillips) has spent the last six seasons breaking the glass ceiling while solving countless mysteries.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
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Princess Lilibet and her brother, Prince Archie, 6, are often kept out of the private eye by their parents, but the siblings have recently been featured in a number of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's photos — and some of their philanthropic work.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Heather had a friend who was training to be a private investigator.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Joe Gibbs Racing hired a private investigator to follow former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, according to recent court declarations in the ongoing federal lawsuit JGR is pursuing against Gabehart and Spire.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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