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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private detective
The Italian Ferretti Group was the setting for a spy-vs-spy scenario that reportedly included private detectives shadowing an executive of the Italian builder’s primary Chinese investor and recording devices hidden in several offices, according to Bloomberg.
—
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 9 June 2025
As a new teaser trailer from Netflix reveals, the private detective is facing his most dangerous case yet.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 1 June 2025
McKinnon will play Joe Dahl, a private detective investigating a decade-old murder.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 June 2025
Directed by Jonathan Li and Choy Man-yu, the film stars Louis Koo as a private detective investigating a complex case involving adultery and murder.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 9 June 2025
As a new teaser trailer from Netflix reveals, the private detective is facing his most dangerous case yet.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 1 June 2025
McKinnon will play Joe Dahl, a private detective investigating a decade-old murder.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 June 2025
Directed by Jonathan Li and Choy Man-yu, the film stars Louis Koo as a private detective investigating a complex case involving adultery and murder.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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Metro Nashville Police Department homicide detectives are investigating after a woman's body, covered by a garbage bag, was discovered off the side of the road in South Nashville on July 19.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 July 2025
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Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was violently sucked into an MRI machine by a metal chain around his neck, police in New York said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Noun
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The fire is being investigated by detectives with the Lake Havasu City Police Department and fire investigators.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
11 July 2025
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In its lawsuit, the agency’s investigators said Frost’s company, First Liberty Building and Loan, lied to investors about lending high-interest loans to small firms.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
11 July 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 police worked to figure that out, Allison’s family hired a private investigator named Marc Benson, who received an email from a woman named Susan Iannone.—
Veronica Fulton,
NBC news,
6 July 2025
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Fort Worth Police Department officers went about 4 p.m. Wednesday to the 3300 block of East Belknap Street to help a private investigator who was attempting to arrest Pardue.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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