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 untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
And after testimony in Miami one day, former Police Chief and Carollo foe Art Acevedo, was followed from the courthouse to a restaurant in Coral Gables by a couple of private detectives.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
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
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
And after testimony in Miami one day, former Police Chief and Carollo foe Art Acevedo, was followed from the courthouse to a restaurant in Coral Gables by a couple of private detectives.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detectives
Noun
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The man was taken in for questioning as Calumet Area detectives investigated.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Investigators learned on Tuesday that Lickhart had died from her injuries, and homicide detectives took over the case, DiMartino said.—
Nathan Pilling
March 17,
Kansas City Star,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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An attack on a Michigan synagogue and a deadly shooting at a Virginia university, with investigators looking at the war in Iran as possible motivation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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One of those interviews would lead a team of cybersecurity investigators to the inner workings of a vast North Korean employment scheme with national security implications.—
Lisa Cavazuti,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Jane Levy is the latest addition to the cast of Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici’s NBC comedy pilot about private investigators.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
-
The untitled half-hour is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detectives. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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