as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective
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Recent Examples of private detective
Cher was once tailed by private detectives hired by Sonny Bono.
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Marina Watts, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
The premise is an 83-year-old widower answers an ad in the paper and becomes an undercover private detective.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024
Also invading Maxine’s personal space is a seedy private detective (Kevin Bacon), who threatens to expose Maxine’s past as a murderer.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
For several years now, Noland has scraped out a living as a private detective.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private detective 
Marina Watts, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
The premise is an 83-year-old widower answers an ad in the paper and becomes an undercover private detective.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024
Also invading Maxine’s personal space is a seedy private detective (Kevin Bacon), who threatens to expose Maxine’s past as a murderer.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
For several years now, Noland has scraped out a living as a private detective.
—Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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David Hasselhoff and company tried to make this after-dark Baywatch spinoff work, but turning frequently shirtless lifeguard Mitch into a second-shift detective wasn’t a natural progression for the character.Sara Netzley, EW.com, 21 Dec. 2024
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Questioning John is Lou Smit, a homicide detective then working for the Boulder D.A.'s office.Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images SEOUL and LONDON -- The two survivors of South Korea's deadliest plane crash in decades were recovering at separate hospitals in Seoul on Monday, as investigators began far-reaching probes into both the fatal crash and the country's broader aviation operations.Joohee Cho, ABC News, 30 Dec. 2024
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The two men and teenage boy were treated, released and interviewed by investigators, according to a statement issued Thursday.Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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When a judge tentatively allowed the music to bang on this fall, sonic private eyes and city officials patrolled the neighborhood with microphones and decibel meters, gathering ammunition for the battle.Katie Thornton, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024
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In Hot Spot, set in a near future society ruled by sentient A.I., a private eye investigates a murder case only to discover a rebel group capable of undermining the digital overlord.Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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His son filed a missing person report in Wichita Falls and the family hired a private investigator to try to locate him.Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2024
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Murphey even hired a private investigator once Svetlana's address turned out to be fake.Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near private detective
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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