PRIVATE DETECTIVE Synonyms: 22 Similar Words

private detective

noun

Definition of private detective

as in detective

a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective

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 detective Meanwhile, private detectives probed Hadley’s vulnerabilities as a witness. — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 In Spider-Noir, Nicolas Cage plays a down-on-his-luck private detective who used to be New York's only superhero. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 June 2026 The movie was made even stranger by then-Hollywood heavyweights like Jackie Chan, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert Evans playing heightened versions of themselves — not to mention an unsettling performance by Harvey Weinstein as a private detective that has, to put it mildly, not aged well. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026 Jackson was involved with the show — which followed three beautiful private detectives — from the very beginning, helping Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg put together the idea after her time on The Rookies. — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for private detective

Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detective

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

Noun

The affidavit also stated that representatives for the NFL and the San Francisco 49ers told investigators that Love had never been employed by either organization.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Homicide investigators and crime scene technicians canvassed the area for evidence and witnesses.

— Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of investigator

Noun

That’s how John Sugar goes from conscientious private eye to would-be assassin.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 July 2026
There are vivid characters—the rich, distinguished crook Brandon, the platinum-blond secretary Miss Vermilyea; Javonen, ex-military intelligence, and seedy private eye from Kansas, Noble, who might have lurched out of an early Graham Greene story.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026

Definition of private eye

Noun

In his latest novel, an American private investigator gets out of his depth while on an assignment in Istanbul to locate a billionaire’s runaway daughter.

— Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026
Reddington tried unsuccessfully to get in contact with Thorndike after seeing the video, and eventually sent his private investigator to her house to speak to her.

— Matt Schooley, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of private investigator

Browse Nearby Words

private

private detective

private detectives

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“Private detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detective. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of private detective

noun

Example Sentences

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