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
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Recent Examples of private detectives
Meanwhile, private detectives probed Hadley’s vulnerabilities as a witness.
—
Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
The trio took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as part of a PaleyFest event commemorating five decades of Charlie's Angels, the groundbreaking ABC series that followed a group of female private detectives.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Jackson was involved with the show — which followed three beautiful private detectives — from the very beginning, helping Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg put together the idea after her time on The Rookies.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
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 publisher has argued that evidence from private detectives can't be trusted.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
The trio took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as part of a PaleyFest event commemorating five decades of Charlie's Angels, the groundbreaking ABC series that followed a group of female private detectives.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
Jackson was involved with the show — which followed three beautiful private detectives — from the very beginning, helping Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg put together the idea after her time on The Rookies.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver.
—Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
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 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
-
Police urge anyone with information to call KCPD detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.—
Rashad Alexander,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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Using security camera video and witness statements, detectives identified Burnside as the shooting suspect, according to the Sheriff’s Office.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
At Wednesday's news conference, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden described the scene investigators encountered.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Cuts expected to remain include a sharp reduction in zoning investigators, the elimination of a fee waiver encouraging sidewalk repairs and cuts to the city’s bomb squad.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, the victims were still being intimidated by Epstein’s private investigators.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
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Though an exhaustive search was conducted, including an intensive investigation by authorities, private investigators and true-crime enthusiasts, Natalee, who was 18 at the time, was never found.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Private detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detectives. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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