hawkshaw

noun

ˈhȯk-ˌshȯ How to pronounce hawkshaw (audio)
Definition of hawkshawnext
as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the firm hired a hawkshaw to find out who was fencing stock from their warehouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hawkshaw
  1. detective
  2. investigator
  3. private eye
Noun
  • Sheriff’s officials said Mullennix pointed a gun at a detective and threatened to shoot him before barricading herself inside the home.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators said Mullennix ran inside when a detective tried to contact her, then allegedly pointed a gun from a window and threatened to shoot him.
    — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of detective
Noun
  • In a statement posted to Facebook, the Wichita Police Department asked anyone with video of the incident to upload it so investigators could take a look.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Roseville-Rocklin regional SWAT team assisted investigators in serving the warrant Friday morning.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of investigator
Noun
  • In the first, a best-selling mystery author dies, and Benoit Blanc, a charismatic and inquisitive private eye played by Daniel Craig, must investigate.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The story revolves around private eye Raymond Gunn (Rockwell), who is drawn into a case involving murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova, voiced by Johansson.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of private eye
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Hawkshaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hawkshaw. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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