as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of private investigator
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
Prime Video’s Spider-Noir set in the sultry crime world of Depression-era New York City, follows an older Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, now working as a private investigator after leaving his superhero past behind him.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Set in 1930s New York, the show follows Ben, a private investigator who’s been in a rut since the death of a loved one.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Did Paige DeSorbo really hire a private investigator to find out if West and Amanda were dating, and did that person take the video?
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Prime Video’s Spider-Noir set in the sultry crime world of Depression-era New York City, follows an older Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, now working as a private investigator after leaving his superhero past behind him.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Set in 1930s New York, the show follows Ben, a private investigator who’s been in a rut since the death of a loved one.
—Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Did Paige DeSorbo really hire a private investigator to find out if West and Amanda were dating, and did that person take the video?
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
-
Inbred eccentrics and bumbling detectives have populated the seaside villages of Bruno Dumont’s absurdist comedies.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
Exactly what led up to the shooting is under investigation by homicide detectives.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The Skaggs side will play a quick but important deposition of an investigator from the case, who testified that Kay told her ex-Angels VP Tim Mead was aware of Kay’s dynamic with Skaggs.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
9 Dec. 2025
-
An unusual role reversal played out during a chaotic arrest in North Carolina, when the suspect attacked and bit a police dog, according to investigators.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, private detectives probed Hadley’s vulnerabilities as a witness.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
Two weeks later, Colin Farrell returns as Los Angeles private detective John Sugar in Sugar Season 2, which continues in the aftermath of Season 1's explosive finale and plunges deeper into a citywide conspiracy.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Sally pauses her work as Marty holds court, sharing war stories from his decades as a private eye.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The film written by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke stars Margaret Qualley as a small-town private eye working a case of strange deaths at a mysterious church.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
