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
Sally pauses her work as Marty holds court, sharing war stories from his decades as a private eye.
—
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Thomas Pynchon's first novel in 12 years, Shadow Ticket, is a mystery that dives into the disappearance of a cheese heiress and draws private eye Hicks McTaggart down a rabbit hole.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
One Battle, like his other recent movies, is based on a book by Thomas Pynchon, the James Joyce of private eye novelists.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Some, like Lee, aren’t fit to live anywhere else; others, like closeted introvert Dale or Marty (the great Keith David), a Black private eye in the Washbergs’ employ, are just working with the hand they’ve been dealt.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Thomas Pynchon's first novel in 12 years, Shadow Ticket, is a mystery that dives into the disappearance of a cheese heiress and draws private eye Hicks McTaggart down a rabbit hole.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
One Battle, like his other recent movies, is based on a book by Thomas Pynchon, the James Joyce of private eye novelists.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Some, like Lee, aren’t fit to live anywhere else; others, like closeted introvert Dale or Marty (the great Keith David), a Black private eye in the Washbergs’ employ, are just working with the hand they’ve been dealt.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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Nampa detectives eventually learned about Salat’s case in Ada County, where he originally was charged with three counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16, court records show.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
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Robert Marshall, lead homicide detective, added.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to federal investigators, Neves Velente was responsible for both the Brown University mass shooting that killed two students and injured nine and the murder of Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno Loureiro, each of which occurred in December.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Jan. 2026
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During the search, officials say that investigators found a series of short videos made by Neves Valente after the shootings.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Joining Phillips as the Victorian era private detective are Sam Buchanan as Detective George Willows, who joins Scotland Yard after rising through the police ranks; and Grace Hogg-Robinson as Isabel Summers, an ambitious young woman who joins the Clerical Office.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
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And while the chemistry in the show — which followed a former model (Shepherd) and a detective (Bruce) who manage a private detective agency — was undeniable, a feud was seemingly brewing behind the scenes.—
Abby Stern,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the premiere of Down Cemetery Road, a desperate woman walks into a private investigator’s office.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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Thompson plays Zoë Boehm, a private investigator every bit as spiky as her pixie cut.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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