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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Recent Examples of investigator
But the claim started to unravel as investigators talked to Morales Reyes, who doesn’t speak English fluently, and obtained a handwriting sample from him that was different from the handwriting in the letters, according to court documents.
—
Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Sacramento police investigators are still working to determine how the 36-year-old mother of four became fatally pinned between her sport utility vehicle and another car in a shopping center’s parking lot on Rush River Drive in Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood Tuesday evening.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office investigators are working to determine how the child ended up in the water, according to the statement.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
Though Watkins had first been ruled out as a suspect in the killing of 20-year-old Isaac Dawkins, who was shot in the head while driving on a highway in Rome in 2000, he was pursued by Floyd County police and investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, according to his complaint.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Sacramento police investigators are still working to determine how the 36-year-old mother of four became fatally pinned between her sport utility vehicle and another car in a shopping center’s parking lot on Rush River Drive in Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood Tuesday evening.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office investigators are working to determine how the child ended up in the water, according to the statement.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
Though Watkins had first been ruled out as a suspect in the killing of 20-year-old Isaac Dawkins, who was shot in the head while driving on a highway in Rome in 2000, he was pursued by Floyd County police and investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, according to his complaint.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for investigator
detective
Noun
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And Natasha Lyonne, who plays amateur detective Charlie Cale, wears almost as many hats: actress, director, writer and producer.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Jamie McBride is an LAPD detective with 35 years of experience on the force.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/investigator. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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