Thesaurus results for PRIVATE EYES

private eyes

noun

plural of private eye

as in detectives

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 eyes The untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eyes

Noun

Detectives spoke with another psychic who first reached out to Sophie’s family before detectives followed up with them, police said, adding the psychic had offered services for free.

— Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
According to Fort Worth police, homicide detectives are investigating.

— Doug Myers, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of detectives

Noun

The affidavit in the case says investigators found three checks Fernandez Saldana wrote to Tenon in October 2022, CNN previously reported, and phone records show the men had more than 60 phone contacts with each other.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Combs has repeatedly denied any involvement in Shakur’s killing and has never been named by investigators as a suspect or even a person of interest in the case.

— Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of investigators

Noun

Meanwhile, private detectives probed Hadley’s vulnerabilities as a witness.

— Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
The trio took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as part of a PaleyFest event commemorating five decades of Charlie's Angels, the groundbreaking ABC series that followed a group of female private detectives.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026

Definition of private detectives

Noun

The Dink star’s new series costars Keith David, Langston Kerman, and Mary Shalaby in a comedy about private investigators working in Los Angeles.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026
Harry and the six other high-profile claimants failed to prove their allegations that the publisher unlawfully obtained private information through methods including private investigators, deception, phone hacking and corrupt payments.

— Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026