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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private eye
In that time, Will has started over as a private eye in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.
—
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 7 Jan. 2025
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
Most recently, the actor worked opposite Colin Farrell in Apple TV+’s twisty private eye series Sugar (2024–present).
—Madeline Cisneros, EW.com, 22 Nov. 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
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 7 Jan. 2025
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
Most recently, the actor worked opposite Colin Farrell in Apple TV+’s twisty private eye series Sugar (2024–present).
—Madeline Cisneros, EW.com, 22 Nov. 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
See All Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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Katt's other notable roles included that of teacher Harry Senate on the school drama Boston Public, crooked finance associate Greg Weinstein in Boiler Room, and detective Frank Duggar in Speakeasy.—
Kat Stinson,
EW.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit detectives are investigating the shooting.—
Michelle Deal-Zimmerman,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Tesla Center footage allegedly showed McIntire lighting a device, which ignites, and throwing it on a Cybertruck. McIntire then returned to the area of the witness’ home on foot and was seen leaving the area in his vehicle around 11:13 p.m., investigators said.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
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Miami Gardens’ investigators on Friday afternoon were still trying to determine who the shooter was and the circumstances of the altercation, the spokesperson said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Its harm is felt when a reporter accosts a convalescing patient in the hospital, when a private detective peers through a neighbor's bedroom window for weeks, and when a photographer snaps an opportunistic photo of a woman's underwear.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 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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Prosecutors added that Zhu hired McMahon, who was working as a private investigator, to locate the man.—
Krystal Nurse,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Justice Department investigation has focused recently on an Israeli private investigator named Amit Forlit whom federal prosecutors are trying to extradite from the United Kingdom for allegedly orchestrating the hacking.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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