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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private investigator
According to court records, Recio agreed to bribe Costanzo, who was the DEA supervisor in Miami, in exchange for his providing the private investigator with confidential information about narcotics investigations.
—
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Comments The private investigator cracked the case.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Now, to be clear, NGN has stressed that none of its staff at The Sun, which is still around today, were ever involved in any unlawful activities, only private investigators.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
As part of its probe, the U.S. is trying to extradite an Israeli private investigator named Amit Forlit from the United Kingdom for allegedly orchestrating the hacking campaign.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Comments The private investigator cracked the case.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Now, to be clear, NGN has stressed that none of its staff at The Sun, which is still around today, were ever involved in any unlawful activities, only private investigators.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
As part of its probe, the U.S. is trying to extradite an Israeli private investigator named Amit Forlit from the United Kingdom for allegedly orchestrating the hacking campaign.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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This is a complex incident, and detectives continue to work through all aspects of the investigation.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
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Heidenreich has denied involvement in his girlfriend's death, per the AAP, despite admitting that his stepfather — a former Cairns police officer — was friendly with a detective working on the murder case.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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According to authorities, investigators have not found any evidence indicating the victim was responsible for the ATV thefts.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
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Two people who had been shot were found dead inside a Thornton home on Wednesday that investigators believe was intentionally set on fire, police said.—
Katie Langford,
The Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Winbush plays a former FBI agent and old friend of Ted's who now works as a private detective, according to Variety.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
25 Feb. 2025
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In the stylish crime-drama Farrell plays John Sugar, a private detective who is hired to investigate the disappearance of a big-time Hollywood producer’s granddaughter while battling some personal demons of his own.—
Jennifer M. Wood,
WIRED,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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These private eyes spy on children in order to determine who is or isn’t living within the district’s strict attendance boundaries.—
Tim Deroche,
Orange County Register,
28 Jan. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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