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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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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The lieutenant also said investigators have taken statements from the dozens of witnesses who were in the area, and are also gathering video surveillance.NBC San Diego, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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Mike Morgan, director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said Thursday that investigators were leaning toward ruling the start of the fire as human-caused.Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 10 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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Leaf’s deputy and private investigator grilled several town clerks and managed to seize one voting machine, according to local reports and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2024
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As John Black, across more than 4,200 episodes, Hogestyn was a spy, mercenary, police officer, private investigator and secret agent.Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 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 23 Nov. 2024.
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