Synonyms of investigator

investigator

noun

in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tər 

1

as in researcher

one who observes or studies by close examination and systematic inquiry

investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated

Synonyms & Similar Words

• researcher
• experimenter
• observer
• examiner
• monitor
• inspector
• fact finder
• empiricist
• empiric
• field-worker

2

as in detective

a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons

the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art

Synonyms & Similar Words

• detective
• operative
• sleuth
• private investigator
• dick
• gumshoe
• private detective
• private eye
• sleuthhound
• shamus
• sherlock
• tracker
• tracer
• hawkshaw
• Federal
• tail
• plainclothesman
• narc
• fed
• shadow
• G-man

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of investigator

To characterize the new mode, Kyle Uckert, SHERLOC’s deputy principal investigator at NASA’s JPL, and his colleagues collected spectra from spare flight optics in their own lab. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026

Police investigators identified the location after police received information about fireworks being advertised on social media. — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026

The airplane was not equipped with a crashworthy voice or data recorder, like those that record flight data on commercial planes, nor was it required to be, investigators said. — ABC News, 3 July 2026

As the search continued, investigators recovered additional human remains from Lake Mattoon before identifying the victim as Turner through what officials described as a thorough investigation. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Phrases Containing investigator

• private investigator