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
McConaughey is in talks to star in a feature film from Skydance based on the iconic private investigator character Mike Hammer, with a script by Pizzolatto.
—
Katcy Stephan, Variety, 13 June 2025
Fed up, Anna hired a private investigator suggested by a friend of a friend who’s an entertainment mogul.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
Her mother said a private investigator revealed that her daughter's boyfriend, William Canterbury, had previously been arrested for domestic violence.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
The immersive series, helmed by Jacaranda co-founders Diana Glenn and Sarah Goodes, places audiences inside the mind of disgraced ex-SFPD detective Veronica Coltrane, now working as a private investigator who becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy after a surveillance job goes wrong.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Katcy Stephan, Variety, 13 June 2025
Fed up, Anna hired a private investigator suggested by a friend of a friend who’s an entertainment mogul.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
Her mother said a private investigator revealed that her daughter's boyfriend, William Canterbury, had previously been arrested for domestic violence.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
The immersive series, helmed by Jacaranda co-founders Diana Glenn and Sarah Goodes, places audiences inside the mind of disgraced ex-SFPD detective Veronica Coltrane, now working as a private investigator who becomes entangled in a deadly conspiracy after a surveillance job goes wrong.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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The boy was later taken into custody at Shawnee High School and questioned by detectives, but was released after police determined he was not involved.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Aug. 2025
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The film stars Smith as a detective in a near-future utopia in which humanity is served by a legion of compliant robots.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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After working with a local towing company to remove the car from the water, investigators then matched the car’s vehicle identification number to Roy Benn, who went missing in September 1967, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.—
Gordon Ebanks,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
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Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators call detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the department’s anonymous tip-line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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The death of a guest jolts the wedding party and reawakens Stephanie’s dormant private detective career.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On one level, Resuscitation of a Hanged Man is a private eye novel.—
Dwyer Murphy
June 24,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
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The idea of a lesbian private eye isn’t even that new either, since Jess Franco had two in a pair of his most enjoyable exploitation movies (Sadisterotika and Kiss Me, Monster, both 1969).—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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