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
The video went viral, internet sleuths did their thing, and their identities were splashed across every gossip rag in town.
—
Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Craig Silverman and Alexios Mantzarlis, two other internet sleuths who’ve covered similar issues, launched their own independent outlet, Indicator, earlier this year, as Semafor scooped.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Amateur sleuths and podcasters Charles, Oliver and Mabel would feel right at home in a historic European building since their beloved Arconia has that feel with its Italian Renaissance Revival style.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
As a culturally influential, enduringly popular fictional character Agatha Christie’s Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot is rivaled only by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Craig Silverman and Alexios Mantzarlis, two other internet sleuths who’ve covered similar issues, launched their own independent outlet, Indicator, earlier this year, as Semafor scooped.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Amateur sleuths and podcasters Charles, Oliver and Mabel would feel right at home in a historic European building since their beloved Arconia has that feel with its Italian Renaissance Revival style.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
As a culturally influential, enduringly popular fictional character Agatha Christie’s Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot is rivaled only by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
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The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective Travis Dalton, with assistance from other Post 4 detectives and troopers, the Meade County Sheriff’s Office and the Meade County Coroner’s Office.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
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Meanwhile, newlyweds Ivy and Potts adjust to married life, a new detective settles in at Scotland Yard, and Nash causes chaos, even from across the globe.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Dramatic body cam video shows a terrified boy was being held by the throat when his knife-wielding captor was killed by a deputy, the Florida investigators say.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
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But after further investigation, Smith said that detectives determined the pedestrian was hit by only one vehicle, and that driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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