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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 investigator
The dark comedy stars Margaret Qualley as Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator who investigates a slew of strange deaths tied to a church in Bakersfield, California.
—
Itzel Luna, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
When a girl dies in a mysterious car accident, small-town private investigator Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) turns her attention to a suspicious church leader (Chris Evans), whose congregation has experienced a number of mysterious deaths.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Through the years, Max has saved his allowance and money from odd jobs to hire a private investigator to find Molly.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Rogers also played the private investigator Hunter Jones in 27 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in 1997.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Itzel Luna, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
When a girl dies in a mysterious car accident, small-town private investigator Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) turns her attention to a suspicious church leader (Chris Evans), whose congregation has experienced a number of mysterious deaths.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Through the years, Max has saved his allowance and money from odd jobs to hire a private investigator to find Molly.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Rogers also played the private investigator Hunter Jones in 27 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in 1997.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
-
After being taken to the precinct to speak with detectives, Stevenson was booked into the Shasta County Jail on a murder charge, where he is being held without bail.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
But less than two weeks later, the detectives called him and said the money was on its way back.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call investigators at 916-210-2871.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Witnesses told investigators that the man had been firing the handgun out of the vehicle’s window before encountering the officers, police said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In the second movie in Ethan Coen and his wife Tricia Cooke’s lesbian B-movie trilogy (the first was the fizzy Drive Away Dolls), Margaret Qualley plays Honey, a stylish private detective trying to solve a case that involves a cult.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Farrell stars as private detective John Sugar in Sugar, who is investigating the disappearance of Olivia Siegel — the granddaughter of wealthy Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell).—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The film written by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke stars Margaret Qualley as a small-town private eye working a case of strange deaths at a mysterious church.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
24 Aug. 2025
-
On one level, Resuscitation of a Hanged Man is a private eye novel.—
Dwyer Murphy
June 24,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share