as in detectives
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private eyes
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
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eyes
Noun
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The investigation led detectives to suspect Berron.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
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Gonzalez said the department didn’t have any details about the incident Tuesday as detectives continued to process the scene.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 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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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,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
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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
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
Cite this Entry
“Private eyes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eyes. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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