investigator

noun

in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tər How to pronounce investigator (audio)
Definition of investigatornext
1
as in researcher
one who observes or studies by close examination and systematic inquiry investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated

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2
as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of investigator Federal prosecutors have charged an ICE officer with six counts of making false statements for allegedly lying to investigators about the shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minnesota earlier this year. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 Related Articles Black initially sought to distance himself from Epstein, though investigators have repeatedly drawn attention to connections between the two. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 In an attempt to justify the shooting, Castro allegedly told investigators he was brutally assaulted by multiple individuals wielding tools, claiming he was hit with a broom and a snow shovel during the confrontation. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 However, Ruffalo’s use of the term is not without support from international investigators. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigator
  1. researcher
  2. detective
Noun
  • Developed by researchers in the US, the remarkable new treatment could one day be used to treat patients in advanced stages of dementia by restoring the brain’s ability to recover from ongoing neurodegeneration.
    — Mike McRae August 30, New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026
  • About a decade later, the researchers Simon Broadbent and John Hammersley — wanting to understand the carbon filters in gas masks — developed a mathematical model.
    — Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of researcher
Noun
  • Back at his Brickell apartment, detectives searched the unit after a judge signed off on a warrant.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • About a month after Craig’s death, police homicide detectives released security camera video of a suspect in the Oak Park fatal shooting.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of detective

Phrases Containing investigator

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investigative
investigator
investigators
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Cite this Entry

“Investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigator. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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