as in detectives
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 detectives
The recipients spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on private detectives and expert analysis.
—
Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The publisher has argued that evidence from private detectives can't be trusted.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Co-written and executive produced by Goor and Del Tredici, the half-hour is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2026
Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The publisher has argued that evidence from private detectives can't be trusted.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Co-written and executive produced by Goor and Del Tredici, the half-hour is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detectives
Noun
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For a while, Mike Sherrill called detectives daily asking for an update.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
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Jason Palant said in an email Wednesday that detectives found files on Jhaveri’s cellphone during their initial investigation that met the criteria for child pornography, but Palant did not provide further details.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some accusations couldn't be verified, investigators wrote.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The sheriff’s department posted on social media to say access was restricted to the road in front of the home to give investigators space.—
Christopher Weber,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Her family in 2018 also engaged in a legal battle with OPD in order to access records that their private investigators could use in a search.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
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The celebrities allege that the company illegally spied on them by hiring private investigators to hack their phones, bug their cars and access private records.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detectives. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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