as in detectives
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 investigators
Charlie's Angels centered on three private investigators who, under orders from their enigmatic but never visible boss, Charlie Townsend, solved cases together using their wits and style.
—
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
This is all part of Harry’s civil lawsuit against ANL for unlawful information gathering, including phone tapping and the use of private investigators.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
Her family in 2018 also engaged in a legal battle with OPD in order to access records that their private investigators could use in a search.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The celebrities allege that the company illegally spied on them by hiring private investigators to hack their phones, bug their cars and access private records.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Harry, along with Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and others, alleges the publisher hired private investigators to bug their cars, obtain personal records and eavesdrop on calls.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
This is all part of Harry’s civil lawsuit against ANL for unlawful information gathering, including phone tapping and the use of private investigators.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
Her family in 2018 also engaged in a legal battle with OPD in order to access records that their private investigators could use in a search.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The celebrities allege that the company illegally spied on them by hiring private investigators to hack their phones, bug their cars and access private records.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Harry, along with Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and others, alleges the publisher hired private investigators to bug their cars, obtain personal records and eavesdrop on calls.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigators
Noun
-
Wentworth Area detectives were investigating.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The pair of Brooklyn North narcotics detectives involved in the clash thought the man matched the description of someone who had just made a drug sale, a police source said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The suspect accused of leading troopers on a police chase through Buckhead before crashing at one of the area's busiest intersections has now been identified, according to an update from investigators.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Operation Sideswipe kept expanding and racking up prosecutorial victories, building off the work of private-sector investigators and lawyers for the trucking companies.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Private investigators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigators. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
