as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of private investigator
Working with a private investigator can help with that.
—
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025
Despite enlisting the help of her private investigator best friend, Stacey (Jessica Plummer), Kat can’t seem to track down Josh.
—Yasmin Garaad, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Years later, a private investigator working for Palacios’ defense team would make a critical discovery: other suspects overlooked by police.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
Trump allowed weeks to go by before signing the agreement, amid reports that his team was considering avoiding the FBI's involvement and outsourcing the vetting to private investigators.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private investigator 
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2025
Despite enlisting the help of her private investigator best friend, Stacey (Jessica Plummer), Kat can’t seem to track down Josh.
—Yasmin Garaad, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Years later, a private investigator working for Palacios’ defense team would make a critical discovery: other suspects overlooked by police.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
Trump allowed weeks to go by before signing the agreement, amid reports that his team was considering avoiding the FBI's involvement and outsourcing the vetting to private investigators.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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According to detectives, the couple made statements that concerned them during that visit, 48 Hours reports.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
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Lynch played the detective, and his voice and delivery is a big part of what makes this piece such a riveting, hilarious watch.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The forum is dominated by anonymous posts about would-be applicants complaining about waiting months to hear back from background investigators.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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Eleven fire departments from surrounding regions responded to the blaze, which investigators determined was arson, according to the sheriff’s office.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.—
Zoe G. Phillips,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Dec. 2024
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Created by Michael Schur, the series follows Charles, a widower and retiree, who is hired by a private detective named Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) and goes undercover at a local San Francisco nursing home to solve a theft.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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In that time, Will has started over as a private eye in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
7 Jan. 2025
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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
Thesaurus Entries Near private investigator
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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