as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private eye
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
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
Continue reading … DARK WATERS – Natalee Holloway private eye's stark warning after another American student goes missing.
—Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025
These private eyes spy on children in order to determine who is or isn’t living within the district’s strict attendance boundaries.
—Tim Deroche, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Tim Lammers, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
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
Continue reading … DARK WATERS – Natalee Holloway private eye's stark warning after another American student goes missing.
—Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025
These private eyes spy on children in order to determine who is or isn’t living within the district’s strict attendance boundaries.
—Tim Deroche, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
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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Near his body, the Kommersant newspaper reported, investigators found a Glock pistol that Starovoit had been given as an award.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
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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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
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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
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 eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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