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
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) A box-office disappointment, this adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel actually got more attention for then-newcomer Don Cheadle’s scene-stealing turn as a lunatic associate of Washington’s main character, the cool, calculating private eye Easy Rawlins.
—
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024
Once there, he gets wrapped up in a mystery, befriends a private eye named Perry (Val Kilmer), and reconnects with Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), a childhood crush.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
The indie is set in a near future society ruled by sentient artificial intelligence and has a private eye investigate a murder case only to discover a rebel group capable of undermining the digital overlord.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The series mixes the everyday with the inexplicable beautifully, with a standout performance by Cynthia Erivo as an eccentric private eye.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024
Once there, he gets wrapped up in a mystery, befriends a private eye named Perry (Val Kilmer), and reconnects with Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), a childhood crush.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
The indie is set in a near future society ruled by sentient artificial intelligence and has a private eye investigate a murder case only to discover a rebel group capable of undermining the digital overlord.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The series mixes the everyday with the inexplicable beautifully, with a standout performance by Cynthia Erivo as an eccentric private eye.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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Following the incident, Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad detectives allegedly seized two firearms.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2025
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Drain, the detective who worked on missing-person cases in Seattle, became a strong advocate for NamUs.—
Nick McMillan,
NPR,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Two people who had been shot were found dead inside a Thornton home on Wednesday that investigators believe was intentionally set on fire, police said.—
Katie Langford,
The Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2025
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The film details how investigators believed Baumeister may have filmed his victims with a secret camera hidden in an air vent in his basement.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
Fox News,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The lawyers said a private investigator identified witnesses who could testify that Davis was not at the scene of the shooting.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
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Playground Productions acquired the franchise rights in 2024, even hiring a private investigator to track down the rights.—
Jake Lang,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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