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
Stanley also has a series on private detective Miranda Corbie set in pre-World War II San Francisco.
—
Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
The untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
And after testimony in Miami one day, former Police Chief and Carollo foe Art Acevedo, was followed from the courthouse to a restaurant in Coral Gables by a couple of private detectives.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
The untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
And after testimony in Miami one day, former Police Chief and Carollo foe Art Acevedo, was followed from the courthouse to a restaurant in Coral Gables by a couple of private detectives.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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Applegate refused to leave until police officers arrived, according to the detective, a threat management expert.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
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Flim-flam men and demonic detectives to the front.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Noun
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In response, the state decided to hire outside investigators to review some of these complaints.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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The suspect was identified by police as 21-year-old Trevon Williams, also an Arizona resident, who investigators said met the victim outside the rental.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Noun
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Oddball comedies, private eye film noir superheroes, tense kidnapping thrillers and much, much more all make their way onto this weekend’s friendly neighborhood weekend streaming guide.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
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Daniel was with Caron from the very beginning of Moonlighting, which starred Shepherd as Maddie Hayes, owner of the struggling Blue Moon Detective Agency, and Bruce Willis as David Addison, the playful private eye who goes to work for her.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Though an exhaustive search was conducted, including an intensive investigation by authorities, private investigators and true-crime enthusiasts, Natalee, who was 18 at the time, was never found.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
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Prime Video’s Spider-Noir set in the sultry crime world of Depression-era New York City, follows an older Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, now working as a private investigator after leaving his superhero past behind him.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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