private investigators

noun

plural of private investigator
as in detectives
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

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 investigators Other insiders recently told Star that Swift is reportedly thinking about hiring private investigators to find out who leaked the photos. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2026 The private investigators recovered one truck with help from the Mexican army. — Steve Fisher special Correspondent follow, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 During the test, two private investigators were hired to conduct surveillance on Hogan. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026 In an interview with a neighbor, the private investigators learned that there was a cargo van outside the house at the time. — Jeremy Greenberg, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Priestley and Sampson are reprising their roles as private investigators Matt Shade and Angie Everett. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026 The series sees Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson reprise their roles as private investigators Matt Shade and Angie Everett. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026 The Dink star’s new series costars Keith David, Langston Kerman, and Mary Shalaby in a comedy about private investigators working in Los Angeles. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026 Harry and the six other high-profile claimants failed to prove their allegations that the publisher unlawfully obtained private information through methods including private investigators, deception, phone hacking and corrupt payments. — Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigators
  1. detectives
  2. investigators
  3. private detectives
Noun
  • The incident is under investigation by detectives pending autopsy results, and no additional details were available Sunday morning, a police representative wrote in an email to the Tribune.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Several hours later, detectives were notified by medical staff that the man died from his injuries.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of detectives
Noun
  • Outside investigators may examine Huang’s official correspondence, travel schedules, and personal device usage alongside company access logs.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2026
  • That number could rise to nine if investigators establish that the attacker was also responsible for the deaths of his parents and sister.
    — Dragana Jovanovic, ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of investigators
Noun
  • Meanwhile, private detectives probed Hadley’s vulnerabilities as a witness.
    — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • The trio took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as part of a PaleyFest event commemorating five decades of Charlie's Angels, the groundbreaking ABC series that followed a group of female private detectives.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Definition of private detectives

Browse Nearby Words

private investigator
private investigators
privately
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Cite this Entry

“Private investigators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigators. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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