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
In addition to hacking phones, the tabloids hired private detectives and encouraged journalists to lie and misrepresent themselves to gain access to highly personal data.
—
Mark Landler, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Colorado private detective Ollie Gray and his partner, John Sangustin, were hired by the Ramseys in 1999.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.
—Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2024
Bogart—best known as the swaggering nightclub owner from Casablanca and the scotch-slinging private detective from The Maltese Falcon—has been dead since the 1950s.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Mark Landler, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Colorado private detective Ollie Gray and his partner, John Sangustin, were hired by the Ramseys in 1999.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.
—Zoe G. Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Dec. 2024
Bogart—best known as the swaggering nightclub owner from Casablanca and the scotch-slinging private detective from The Maltese Falcon—has been dead since the 1950s.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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With the Farris Wheel starting to turn, detectives asked Scott if his father was having an affair.—
Susan Mallie,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2025
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Prosecutors also said detectives recovered video footage that suggests there may be dozens, if not hundreds, of women who were victimized.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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According to the documents, investigators secured a search warrant for footage from inside the school and saw Morrison encourage other students to mentally and physically abuse a child at the school.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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On April 16, investigators determined her account was accessed from an IP address at a home where 44-year-old Maximilian Bondrescu lived.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Levitt stars in Killer Heat as Nick Bali, a private eye who travels to the Greek island of Crete to investigate the death of shipping magnate Leo Vardakis (Richard Madden), who plunged to his death during a free solo rock climb.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes,
26 Sep. 2024
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The film closes with Stephanie thriving as a successful vlogger and part-time private eye while Emily, ever the con artist, adjusts to life in prison.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Tess Monaghan series follows the investigative pursuits of Tess Monaghan, a former reporter turned private investigator in Baltimore.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2025
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During the event, Moore displayed poster boards of Eady, which were blurred by Bravo, and said they were provided to her by a private investigator.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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