as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sleuth
Horrified by the secrets revealed by Bateman, Christine Marie and Katas were emboldened to go undercover as amateur sleuths.
—
Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Referring to himself with words like spy, detective, gumshoe, Wilbur pulls all kinds of sleuth-like maneuvers to find out ingredients and amounts used in the recipes.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
Trachtenberg rose to prominence as a child on The Adventures of Pete & Pete and as the titular sleuth in Harriet the Spy (1996).
—Rachel Desantis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
But as sleuths have noted, there is publishing precedent for a Communion with a colon attached.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Referring to himself with words like spy, detective, gumshoe, Wilbur pulls all kinds of sleuth-like maneuvers to find out ingredients and amounts used in the recipes.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
Trachtenberg rose to prominence as a child on The Adventures of Pete & Pete and as the titular sleuth in Harriet the Spy (1996).
—Rachel Desantis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
But as sleuths have noted, there is publishing precedent for a Communion with a colon attached.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
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That evening, a detective assigned to a robbery intervention detail tried to stop a black Mercedes-Benz at Northwest 17th Avenue and 71st Street, according to a MDSO video.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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His gift is an uncanny ability to solve crimes that leave the LAPD baffled, armed only with the savvy and dry humor reminiscent of the gumshoe detectives of the noir genre.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After Lawhead’s arrest, investigators searched the house and found loaded firearms, a bag with $15,000 and a burner phone, the sheriff said.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
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At one point, the 4-year-old lifted the blanket, exposing his bare stomach, and Berrios-Otero’s hand could allegedly be seen appearing to be below the child’s stomach area, an investigator wrote in the warrant affidavits.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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