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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private investigator
The dark comedy stars Margaret Qualley as Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator who investigates a slew of strange deaths tied to a church in Bakersfield, California.
—
Itzel Luna, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
When a girl dies in a mysterious car accident, small-town private investigator Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) turns her attention to a suspicious church leader (Chris Evans), whose congregation has experienced a number of mysterious deaths.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Through the years, Max has saved his allowance and money from odd jobs to hire a private investigator to find Molly.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Rogers also played the private investigator Hunter Jones in 27 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in 1997.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Itzel Luna, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
When a girl dies in a mysterious car accident, small-town private investigator Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) turns her attention to a suspicious church leader (Chris Evans), whose congregation has experienced a number of mysterious deaths.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Through the years, Max has saved his allowance and money from odd jobs to hire a private investigator to find Molly.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Rogers also played the private investigator Hunter Jones in 27 episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in 1997.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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Anyone with information regarding the man’s death can contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
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This time, police taped off the house and questioned Sutton-Schulman for two hours until a detective got a call from the hospital confirming that L had attempted suicide in the woods behind the house.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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After witnessing Nillo driving erratically after leaving the commissioner’s apartment building, investigators stopped her and seized the vehicle.—
Joey Flechas,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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This suspect has now been stopped in his tracks because of the diligent and tenacious work done by investigators at both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In the second movie in Ethan Coen and his wife Tricia Cooke’s lesbian B-movie trilogy (the first was the fizzy Drive Away Dolls), Margaret Qualley plays Honey, a stylish private detective trying to solve a case that involves a cult.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
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Farrell stars as private detective John Sugar in Sugar, who is investigating the disappearance of Olivia Siegel — the granddaughter of wealthy Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell).—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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On one level, Resuscitation of a Hanged Man is a private eye novel.—
Dwyer Murphy
June 24,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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