as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private investigator
Believing Stratten was having an affair, Snider hired a private investigator.
—
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The report has been circulating in Louisiana for months, according to people familiar with the effort to uncover it, and last fall, a private investigator requested public records related to the woman that have since been used to try to undermine her credibility.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Heather had a friend who was training to be a private investigator.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Joe Gibbs Racing hired a private investigator to follow former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, according to recent court declarations in the ongoing federal lawsuit JGR is pursuing against Gabehart and Spire.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026
The report has been circulating in Louisiana for months, according to people familiar with the effort to uncover it, and last fall, a private investigator requested public records related to the woman that have since been used to try to undermine her credibility.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Heather had a friend who was training to be a private investigator.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Joe Gibbs Racing hired a private investigator to follow former competition director Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson, according to recent court declarations in the ongoing federal lawsuit JGR is pursuing against Gabehart and Spire.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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Police detectives are investigating two shootings that happened a short time apart in two Pittsburgh neighborhoods located not far from one another.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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After investigating the shooting, Boston Police detectives were able to obtain a warrant for the suspect out of Suffolk County Juvenile Court for several gun charges and armed assault to murder.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But Johnson-Swartz began calling and texting in the days that followed, the student told investigators.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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In a related email to Abbott, neonatologist Robert White of Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, and Pediatrix Medical Group — an investigator in the study — explained his concerns.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Stanley also has a series on private detective Miranda Corbie set in pre-World War II San Francisco.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
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Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.—
Rebecca Rosman,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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Whether or not Johnson’s private eye character will be hard-boiled, soft-boiled, or even poached remains to be seen.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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