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
In the second movie in Ethan Coen and his wife Tricia Cooke’s lesbian B-movie trilogy (the first was the fizzy Drive Away Dolls), Margaret Qualley plays Honey, a stylish private detective trying to solve a case that involves a cult.
—
James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
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
But after her best friend’s death, getting dumped, and her father’s fall from grace as the local sheriff, Veronica is a high school outsider by day and a private detective by night.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Following her performances as southern womanizer Jamie in Drive-Away Dolls and fearless private detective Honey O’Donahue in Honey Don’t!
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
James Grebey, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
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
But after her best friend’s death, getting dumped, and her father’s fall from grace as the local sheriff, Veronica is a high school outsider by day and a private detective by night.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Following her performances as southern womanizer Jamie in Drive-Away Dolls and fearless private detective Honey O’Donahue in Honey Don’t!
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
-
The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective Travis Dalton, with assistance from other Post 4 detectives and troopers, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office and the Meade County Coroner’s Office.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Meanwhile, newlyweds Ivy and Potts adjust to married life, a new detective settles in at Scotland Yard, and Nash causes chaos, even from across the globe.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Dramatic body cam video shows a terrified boy was being held by the throat when his knife-wielding captor was killed by a deputy, the Florida investigators say.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But after further investigation, Smith said that detectives determined the pedestrian was hit by only one vehicle, and that driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Thomas Pynchon's first novel in 12 years, Shadow Ticket, is a mystery that dives into the disappearance of a cheese heiress and draws private eye Hicks McTaggart down a rabbit hole.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
10 Oct. 2025
-
One Battle, like his other recent movies, is based on a book by Thomas Pynchon, the James Joyce of private eye novelists.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the premiere of Down Cemetery Road, a desperate woman walks into a private investigator’s office.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Thompson plays Zoë Boehm, a private investigator every bit as spiky as her pixie cut.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share