as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private detective
And after testimony in Miami one day, former Police Chief and Carollo foe Art Acevedo, was followed from the courthouse to a restaurant in Coral Gables by a couple of private detectives.
—
Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
When his teams didn’t entertain, Moe became the show, this cursing, grumbling, rumpled 6-foot-5 firebrand who dressed like a ’70s private detective, a disheveled anti-hero who detested suits.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Eventually, a private detective tracked down the Whiteheads in Holiday, Florida, and Baby M, as the child was known in the news, was brought back to the Sterns.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The publisher has argued that evidence from private detectives can't be trusted.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
When his teams didn’t entertain, Moe became the show, this cursing, grumbling, rumpled 6-foot-5 firebrand who dressed like a ’70s private detective, a disheveled anti-hero who detested suits.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Eventually, a private detective tracked down the Whiteheads in Holiday, Florida, and Baby M, as the child was known in the news, was brought back to the Sterns.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The publisher has argued that evidence from private detectives can't be trusted.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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On Tuesday night, Orosco flew back to the United States, escorted by Miami-Dade Sheriff's detectives and the FBI.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Days after the incident, detectives received pictures and messages from Smith’s Snapchat account indicating an arrangement between Williams and Smith to purchase marijuana.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But Johnson-Swartz began calling and texting in the days that followed, the student told investigators.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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In a related email to Abbott, neonatologist Robert White of Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, and Pediatrix Medical Group — an investigator in the study — explained his concerns.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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Whether or not Johnson’s private eye character will be hard-boiled, soft-boiled, or even poached remains to be seen.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At one point, a private investigator (not a cop) explains why the killer has to be a certain height, and then the show keeps hinting at suspects who don’t fit the description.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
18 Mar. 2026
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Jane Levy is the latest addition to the cast of Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici’s NBC comedy pilot about private investigators.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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