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
After two audience members fueled cheating allegations with a … memorable appearance on the Jumbotron during a Coldplay show at Boston’s Gillette Stadium on July 16, online sleuths clocked in and discovered the pair appear to be co-workers.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 17 July 2025
Well, Liv pretty much soft-launched their relationship, and internet sleuths figured out the rest.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 14 July 2025
The video quickly went viral and internet sleuths were the first to identify Byron and Cabot.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
The noble cyber sleuths, Ian Carroll and Sam Curry, reported the flaw to McDonald’s and the vendor for swift technical resolution.
—Noah Barsky, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 17 July 2025
Well, Liv pretty much soft-launched their relationship, and internet sleuths figured out the rest.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 14 July 2025
The video quickly went viral and internet sleuths were the first to identify Byron and Cabot.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
The noble cyber sleuths, Ian Carroll and Sam Curry, reported the flaw to McDonald’s and the vendor for swift technical resolution.
—Noah Barsky, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
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During the operation, Hodge sold more than 200 grams of methamphetamine to undercover detectives, police said.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Aug. 2025
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Serbian medical detective story Guardians of the Formula about the first bone marrow transplant during the Cold War years.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Panjabi is likely best known, however, for her work on series like Life on Mars (2006–2007) and as investigator Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife (2009–2015), the latter of which earned her three Emmy nominations and one win.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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After making it into the apartment, the brothers jumped off a second floor balcony to escape, investigators say.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
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