as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the firm hired a hawkshaw to find out who was fencing stock from their warehouse

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Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hawkshaw
Noun
  • Homicide detectives are investigating deaths at several locations, said Nicole Nishida, communications director for the Sheriff’s Department.
    Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Police said that detectives arrested Prioleau at a home in the 2600 block of Tyler Street on Jan. 1, 2025.
    Maggie Ybarra, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested if investigators are able to detain him.
    Ryan Hogg, Fortune Asia, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Specifically, the lawsuit names the Santa Fe District Attorney, a special prosecutor, and three investigators from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Hawkshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hawkshaw. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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