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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private detective
The driver of the vehicle, Ball, began firing shots — injuring both Anne’s chauffeur, Alex Callender, and private detective, James Beaton — before climbing in the front seat and ordering the princess to get out before he was stopped by a passerby.
—
Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Daniel Craig is back as private detective Benoit Blanc, with Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church all part of the ensemble.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 9 July 2025
The cast and crew of the Netflix film, including Daniel Craig in the fan-favorite role of private detective Benoit Blanc, will attend the opening night gala on Oct. 8 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
Holmes, Margaret and Poe run the private detective agency that solves the crimes no one else can.
—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Daniel Craig is back as private detective Benoit Blanc, with Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church all part of the ensemble.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 9 July 2025
The cast and crew of the Netflix film, including Daniel Craig in the fan-favorite role of private detective Benoit Blanc, will attend the opening night gala on Oct. 8 at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
Holmes, Margaret and Poe run the private detective agency that solves the crimes no one else can.
—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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After being taken to the precinct to speak with detectives, Stevenson was booked into the Shasta County Jail on a murder charge, where he is being held without bail.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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But less than two weeks later, the detectives called him and said the money was on its way back.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After witnessing Nillo driving erratically after leaving the commissioner’s apartment building, investigators stopped her and seized the vehicle.—
Joey Flechas,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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This suspect has now been stopped in his tracks because of the diligent and tenacious work done by investigators at both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The film written by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke stars Margaret Qualley as a small-town private eye working a case of strange deaths at a mysterious church.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
24 Aug. 2025
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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
Noun
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Berger and Nina Gold cast Tilda Swinton as Cynthia Blithe, the private investigator who tracks him, laser like, to China, with Fala Chen playing Dao Ming, the savvy hostess who sees something behind Doyle’s desperate tactics, and Alex Jennings as an expat of the most venal variety.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
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According to court records, Recio agreed to bribe Costanzo, who was the DEA supervisor in Miami, in exchange for his providing the private investigator with confidential information about narcotics investigations.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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