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
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
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.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye 
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
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.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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According to detectives, the couple made statements that concerned them during that visit, 48 Hours reports.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
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Lynch played the detective, and his voice and delivery is a big part of what makes this piece such a riveting, hilarious watch.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The forum is dominated by anonymous posts about would-be applicants complaining about waiting months to hear back from background investigators.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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Eleven fire departments from surrounding regions responded to the blaze, which investigators determined was arson, according to the sheriff’s office.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.—
Zoe G. Phillips,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Dec. 2024
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Created by Michael Schur, the series follows Charles, a widower and retiree, who is hired by a private detective named Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) and goes undercover at a local San Francisco nursing home to solve a theft.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The wide-ranging scandal centered on private investigators who illegally hacked into the voicemails of news subjects and gathered information for Murdoch’s tabloids.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN,
22 Jan. 2025
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Accusations of privacy invasions Harry accuses the company's journalists and private investigators of unlawfully gaining access to his personal information over many years.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2025
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 30 Jan. 2025.
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