Thesaurus
Synonyms of private 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 for private detective
- detective,
- dick,
- gumshoe,
- hawkshaw,
- investigator,
- operative,
- private eye,
- private investigator,
- shamus
- [slang],
- sherlock,
- sleuth,
- sleuthhound
Words Related to private detective
Learn More About private detective
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 29 Nov. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Name that Thing: Flower Edition
-
- Name that flower
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share private detective
Time Traveler for private detective
The first known use of private detective was in 1861
See more words from the same year