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
Citizens, private investigators, family and media have over the years requested crime and autopsy reports related to the case from Weatherford police — only to be met with persistent denials, according to records obtained by the Star-Telegram.
—
Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
Meanwhile, the victims were still being intimidated by Epstein’s private investigators.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Prime Video’s Spider-Noir set in the sultry crime world of Depression-era New York City, follows an older Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, now working as a private investigator after leaving his superhero past behind him.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Set in 1930s New York, the show follows Ben, a private investigator who’s been in a rut since the death of a loved one.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Tanya Babbar, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026
Meanwhile, the victims were still being intimidated by Epstein’s private investigators.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Prime Video’s Spider-Noir set in the sultry crime world of Depression-era New York City, follows an older Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, now working as a private investigator after leaving his superhero past behind him.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Set in 1930s New York, the show follows Ben, a private investigator who’s been in a rut since the death of a loved one.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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Police said there were no signs of trauma or foul play and homicide detectives are investigating.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 June 2026
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On June 12, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Pollock on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police said.—
Sofia Saric
June 23,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Noun
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Police say Crash Team investigators responded and assumed control over the investigation.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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And schools that delay submitting transfer paperwork until the last minute thinking investigators will be too busy to spot an error don’t understand the process.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
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The stylistic eccentricities have been dialed back, including the use of old Hollywood film clips to reflect the action and possibly the thoughts of its main character, a cinephile from space, who is both practicing and enacting the work of a private detective.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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William Hopper’s Paul Drake assisted as Mason’s go-to private detective with a knack for finding the evidence Mason and his clients needed.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Somewhere in the middle of this Los Angeles neo-noir, Colin Farrell’s quiet, well-dressed, cinema-loving private eye was revealed to be a blue-skinned alien — then the show just kept going, missing-persons mystery intact.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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