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
Set in 1979, the series follows Leila, a 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian young woman with a love of film and pulp novels who travels to California to reconnect with her estranged uncle – a semi-retired private eye once celebrated for having married the starlet he was originally hired to find.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 May 2026
That one is set in Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, where private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 May 2026
The Palladino Files – When legendary private eye Jack Palladino is murdered, one of his old targets, Ronan Farrow,takes up the case.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Krysten Ritter plays Jessica Jones, a former superhero battling PTSD and working as a private eye.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 May 2026
That one is set in Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, where private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 May 2026
The Palladino Files – When legendary private eye Jack Palladino is murdered, one of his old targets, Ronan Farrow,takes up the case.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Krysten Ritter plays Jessica Jones, a former superhero battling PTSD and working as a private eye.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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Police said there were no signs of trauma or foul play and homicide detectives are investigating.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
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On June 12, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Pollock on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police said.—
Sofia Saric
June 23,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Noun
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Police say Crash Team investigators responded and assumed control over the investigation.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
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The stylistic eccentricities have been dialed back, including the use of old Hollywood film clips to reflect the action and possibly the thoughts of its main character, a cinephile from space, who is both practicing and enacting the work of a private detective.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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William Hopper’s Paul Drake assisted as Mason’s go-to private detective with a knack for finding the evidence Mason and his clients needed.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Farrell also dished on his most recent role in season 2 of Sugar, in which the actor reprises the character of private investigator John Sugar.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
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Ever since Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, fans have turned into part-time wedding planners, part-time private investigators and full-time internet detectives.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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