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
The report also indicates the two have taken care to keep their romance out of the private eye for what seems to be a substantial amount of time.
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Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2024
Worse yet, a seedy private eye (Kevin Bacon) starts invading Maxine’s personal space and threatens to expose her murderous past.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Where to watch: Disney+ ‘Killer Heat’ Noir isn't just for back alleys and big cities: There's a scenic mystery afoot in this modern detective story, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an ex-cop working as a private eye in Greece.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
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.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye 
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2024
Worse yet, a seedy private eye (Kevin Bacon) starts invading Maxine’s personal space and threatens to expose her murderous past.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024
Where to watch: Disney+ ‘Killer Heat’ Noir isn't just for back alleys and big cities: There's a scenic mystery afoot in this modern detective story, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as an ex-cop working as a private eye in Greece.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
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.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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During a Monday news conference, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said detectives were traveling to Altoona, about 100 miles east of Pittsburgh, to interview Mangione.James Powel, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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Joseph Kenny, the NYPD's chief of detectives, confirmed Monday that the note is now in the possession of the Altoona Police Department.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Kenny added that investigators found evidence that Mangione knew of UnitedHealthcare's annual investor conference in New York City.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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Federal investigators began looking into Jafari-Hassad’s operation in 2019.Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Cher was once tailed by private detectives hired by Sonny Bono.Marina Watts, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024
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The premise is an 83-year-old widower answers an ad in the paper and becomes an undercover private detective.Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
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After the hearing, one of the Jane Does whom Masterson was convicted of raping said the same private investigator has reached out to people connected to her personal life.Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
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The GoFundMe will also help pay to hire a private investigator to look into the boy's death.Sean Neumann, People.com, 6 Dec. 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 21 Dec. 2024.
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