as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private detective
The Accountant 2 opens with the murder of Ray King (J.K. Simmons), who, since retiring from his job as Treasury Director, moonlit as a private detective.
—
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Over the last quarter century, David Suchet became the definitive Hercule Poirot, starring as the fussy but perceptive private detective in 70 screen adaptations of Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
In places like Altadena, the brunt was endured by low-income households, many inhabited by renters rather than owners—not the sort of folk who could pay for ample insurance coverage, let alone for private detectives.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Over the last quarter century, David Suchet became the definitive Hercule Poirot, starring as the fussy but perceptive private detective in 70 screen adaptations of Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
In places like Altadena, the brunt was endured by low-income households, many inhabited by renters rather than owners—not the sort of folk who could pay for ample insurance coverage, let alone for private detectives.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for private detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective
Noun
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This classic comedy follows the unlikely partnership between Hong Kong detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and fast-talking LAPD detective James Carter (Chris Tucker)—two cops with wildly different personalities and approaches to the job.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Homicide detectives and investigators were working the scene, canvassing the area and interviewing witnesses when Binion turned himself in at the jail.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacramento Bee,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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According to a police report obtained by TMZ, investigators found messages from Victoria to an inmate in a Florida prison about murdering her husband, Aaron.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
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Boeing declined to comment, referring queries to American Airlines and investigators.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The film closes with Stephanie thriving as a successful vlogger and part-time private eye while Emily, ever the con artist, adjusts to life in prison.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
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Continue reading … DARK WATERS – Natalee Holloway private eye's stark warning after another American student goes missing.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The duke had sued News Group Newspapers (NGN) – publisher of British tabloids The Sun and the now-shuttered News of the World – claiming journalists and private investigators working for the publications had targeted him and his family between 1996 and 2011.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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They get snared into helping their private investigator friend Moby (Hung) track down kidnappers intent on capturing a young woman named Sylvia (Lola Forner), who turns out to be the illegitimate daughter of a Spanish count.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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