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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 detective
Stanley also has a series on private detective Miranda Corbie set in pre-World War II San Francisco.
—
Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
-
The Sheriff's Department said its Special Victims Bureau detectives are in the very early stages of their investigation.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Harrison Area detectives were investigating the deaths.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Following the alleged confession, investigators in Medina County began searching the Medina Lake area.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
With assurances of an immunity deal, David Wiley met with investigators at his attorney's office.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rockwell plays the titular Raymond Gunn, a private eye drawn into a case involving murder, aliens, and Johansson’s multimedia star Venus Nova.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The private investigator did not keep Kennedy anonymous.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Charlie's Angels centered on three private investigators who, under orders from their enigmatic but never visible boss, Charlie Townsend, solved cases together using their wits and style.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
