PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Synonyms: 22 Similar Words

private investigator

noun

as in detective

a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 private investigator His mother, Wendy O’Connor, filed a missing persons report, and Love hired a private investigator to locate the musician. — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 During the test, two private investigators were hired to conduct surveillance on Hogan. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026 The series follows Rapp (Noah Reid), a private investigator who arrives in the small coastal town of Whittock, to investigate the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery, Henry Park (Williams). — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 Instead of being someone who attracts trouble like Jack Reacher, Neagley is a private investigator who chooses her battles. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for private investigator

Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator

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

His plan was to hire a private detective and get to the bottom of this treachery.

— Deborah Day, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Andy Anderson, once a private detective for Griffin Investigations, demonstrated this remarkable feat of motivated reasoning in the 2004 documentary The Hot Shoe.

— Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of private detective

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

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private eyes

private investigator

private investigators

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“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of private investigator

noun

Example Sentences

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