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
Sayers penned popular novels featuring amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey including Strong Poison and Whose Body?.
—
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Internet sleuths quickly identified Byron and Cabot, who reportedly both have families of their own.
—EW.com, 19 July 2025
This comes after a viral video taken during a Coldplay concert in Boston captured a man who resembles Byron hugged up with a woman many online sleuths identified as Astronomer’s HR boss Kristin Cabot.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
Once the encounter was posted online, internet sleuths quickly detected the identity of the duo, and the encounter was deemed particularly inappropriate given Byron is married.
—Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Internet sleuths quickly identified Byron and Cabot, who reportedly both have families of their own.
—EW.com, 19 July 2025
This comes after a viral video taken during a Coldplay concert in Boston captured a man who resembles Byron hugged up with a woman many online sleuths identified as Astronomer’s HR boss Kristin Cabot.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 18 July 2025
Once the encounter was posted online, internet sleuths quickly detected the identity of the duo, and the encounter was deemed particularly inappropriate given Byron is married.
—Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
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And when this happens, victims and the FBI call Joe Ford, a detective with a particular set of skills.—
Stayton Bonner,
Robb Report,
24 Aug. 2025
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Peter Valentin, chair of the Forensic Science Department at the University of New Haven and a former Connecticut State Police detective, cited the need for investigators to confirm a victim’s death is the work of a serial killer when looking into these types of cases.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
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After working with a local towing company to remove the car from the water, investigators then matched the car’s vehicle identification number to Roy Benn, who went missing in September 1967, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.—
Gordon Ebanks,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
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Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have information valuable to investigators call detectives at 203-946-6304 or through the department’s anonymous tip-line at 866-888-TIPS (8477).—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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