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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private investigator
Cage plays 1930s private investigator Ben Reilly who is also a web-slinging superhero.
—
Pat Saperstein, Variety, 25 May 2026
Something stuck with one of the private investigators that were hired to do a surveillance on somebody that a client wanted surveilled.
—Rafael Perez, Daily News, 25 May 2026
Walking the streets asking people about her brother alongside her niece, reporting tips to police tirelessly, creating an online fundraiser and even hiring private investigators to lend a helping hand.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Because Lanzillo was working for a private private investigator firm retained by a law firm representing the Costa Mesa Police Officers’ Association, the case required the utmost competence and independence.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Pat Saperstein, Variety, 25 May 2026
Something stuck with one of the private investigators that were hired to do a surveillance on somebody that a client wanted surveilled.
—Rafael Perez, Daily News, 25 May 2026
Walking the streets asking people about her brother alongside her niece, reporting tips to police tirelessly, creating an online fundraiser and even hiring private investigators to lend a helping hand.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Because Lanzillo was working for a private private investigator firm retained by a law firm representing the Costa Mesa Police Officers’ Association, the case required the utmost competence and independence.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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Applegate refused to leave until police officers arrived, according to the detective, a threat management expert.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
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Flim-flam men and demonic detectives to the front.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Noun
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In response, the state decided to hire outside investigators to review some of these complaints.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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The suspect was identified by police as 21-year-old Trevon Williams, also an Arizona resident, who investigators said met the victim outside the rental.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Noun
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In Charlie's Angels, Liu, Barrymore, 51, and Diaz, 53, star as three women working in a private detective agency.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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The movie was made even stranger by then-Hollywood heavyweights like Jackie Chan, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert Evans playing heightened versions of themselves — not to mention an unsettling performance by Harvey Weinstein as a private detective that has, to put it mildly, not aged well.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Oddball comedies, private eye film noir superheroes, tense kidnapping thrillers and much, much more all make their way onto this weekend’s friendly neighborhood weekend streaming guide.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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