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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Stacey Wondra told the detectives that after placing Michael in the duffel bag, the group drove him to a house in Kuna and put him in a spare room, the affidavit said.—
Alex Brizee
March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
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The lawsuit further alleges detectives withheld hundreds of pages of investigative reports, witness statements and materials from a parallel investigation into Dvorsky’s death that could have allowed Puckett’s attorneys to argue someone else committed the crime.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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According to investigators, Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, began driving away in a pickup truck on North Gate Drive when Hughes tripped and fell into the road, where he was struck by the vehicle.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Tisch added that investigators are continuing to analyze a second device.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the novel, Spade and partner Miles Archer are private investigators who accept a case from a woman hoping to find her sister, who ran off with a mysterious man.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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Once upon a time, there was a TV show about three little girls who went to the police academy and then became private investigators.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detectives. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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