Thesaurus results for PRIVATE EYE

private eye

noun

Definition of private eye

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of private eye With the Christmas action hit under his belt and the private eye dramedy’s cancellation in 1989, the actor moved into film work full-time. — Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026 In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova. — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 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 Nicolas Cage, in his first live-action television role, plays Ben Reilly, a down-at-the-heels private eye, spiking his morning coffee with whiskey helpfully provided by his knowing secretary, Janet (Karen Rodriguez), and barely scraping by on the occasional divorce case. — Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for private eye

Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye

Noun

While searching the area, two other detectives spotted the Chevy parked at Southwest 64th Court and 88th Street.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Larry Baimbridge spent thirty-one years with the Houston Police Department, including stints as a homicide detective and as commander of the SWAT team.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of detective

Noun

The decades-long search for answers in Amy’s case inspired the couple to help establish the nonprofit, which helps to fund unsolved homicide investigations, train investigators and support victims’ families.

— Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
The footage showed the vehicles entering and exiting the site and allowed investigators to capture their vehicle identification numbers, which were forwarded to CBP, according to Earley.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of investigator

Noun

In the mid-1990s, Bob Bartel, a Chicago native and sometime private detective and full-time Beatles nut, heard Louise speak at a fan convention about George’s vacation in Benton.

— Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
His plan was to hire a private detective and get to the bottom of this treachery.

— Deborah Day, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of private detective

Noun

Henry’s family are concerned enough to have sent in their own smarmy private investigator, Rapp (Noah Reid), though not quite concerned enough to cut short their own business trip to Japan.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
The mother who police say killed her husband and their 3-year-old son at Great Wolf Lodge could face the death penalty, according to a private investigator.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of private investigator

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privateers

private eye

private eyes

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“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of private eye

noun

Example Sentences

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