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
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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.
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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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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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Farrell stars as private detective John Sugar in Sugar, who is investigating the disappearance of Olivia Siegel — the granddaughter of wealthy Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell).—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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The death of a guest jolts the wedding party and reawakens Stephanie’s dormant private detective career.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 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 eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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