as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of private eye
Wang, with her office full of helpers, her dialog that swings between that of a private eye and a guidance counsellor, and her ingenuity, is an undoubtedly fascinating central character.
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Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
Meanwhile, Ruby meets up with Miller (Paul Schulze) in a secluded woodsy spot to have a cryptic discussion about what to do with their resident private eye with a heart of gold.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2024
But his tenacious and loopy ex-wife, the private eye Fiona (Gordon), could foil their master plan.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Whether her character was a nurse, an inmate in a Philippine prison, a Nubian warrior, or a private eye in Kentucky, Grier always found time to put a hurting on any man or woman who provoked her.
—Odie Henderson, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye 
Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
Meanwhile, Ruby meets up with Miller (Paul Schulze) in a secluded woodsy spot to have a cryptic discussion about what to do with their resident private eye with a heart of gold.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2024
But his tenacious and loopy ex-wife, the private eye Fiona (Gordon), could foil their master plan.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Whether her character was a nurse, an inmate in a Philippine prison, a Nubian warrior, or a private eye in Kentucky, Grier always found time to put a hurting on any man or woman who provoked her.
—Odie Henderson, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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In 2010, cold case detectives recovered additional items and sent them for DNA testing, leading to the DNA profile of a male suspect.Alaa Elassar, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
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Police said no suspects were in custody and that area detectives were investigating the shooting.Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Anyone with information may call homicide investigators at 510-238-3821 or the tip line at 510-238-7950.Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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The new and powerful forensic method has spread widely among law enforcement investigators over the past few years.Alaa Elassar, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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According to the lawsuit that Rocky later filed, the father of seven claimed Kevin hired a private detective to investigate Keiko.Alex Gurley, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
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Starring and executive-produced by Farrell (who currently headlines HBO’s The Penguin), Sugar is a contemporary and unique take on the private detective genre.Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 2 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The ride got a new storyline that starred Jessica as a private investigator — wearing a trench coat over her iconic outfit.Victoria Edel, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
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In 2021, Disneyland updated Jessica Rabbit’s look in the Anaheim park from her red dress to a trench coat, allegedly more in line with her new career as a private investigator, taking after Bob Hoskins’ Eddie Valliant in the project.Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near private eye
Cite this Entry
“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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