as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private eye
Once there, he gets wrapped up in a mystery, befriends a private eye named Perry (Val Kilmer), and reconnects with Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), a childhood crush.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
The indie is set in a near future society ruled by sentient artificial intelligence and has a private eye investigate a murder case only to discover a rebel group capable of undermining the digital overlord.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The series mixes the everyday with the inexplicable beautifully, with a standout performance by Cynthia Erivo as an eccentric private eye.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2024
The report also indicates the two have taken care to keep their romance out of the private eye for what seems to be a substantial amount of time.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye 
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
The indie is set in a near future society ruled by sentient artificial intelligence and has a private eye investigate a murder case only to discover a rebel group capable of undermining the digital overlord.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The series mixes the everyday with the inexplicable beautifully, with a standout performance by Cynthia Erivo as an eccentric private eye.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2024
The report also indicates the two have taken care to keep their romance out of the private eye for what seems to be a substantial amount of time.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at (816) 234-5043 or through the TIPS hotline anonymously at (816) 474- TIPS.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
2 Feb. 2025
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The detective suffered head injuries, and his K-9 partner, Roxi, sustained life-threatening injuries, according to investigators.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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At Diaz’s home, investigators reportedly found 90 rounds of ammunition.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2025
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Crash investigators are not blaming the air traffic controller directing the traffic, who advised the helicopter to be aware of the regional jet’s position in the area ahead of the crash.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In addition to hacking phones, the tabloids hired private detectives and encouraged journalists to lie and misrepresent themselves to gain access to highly personal data.—
Mark Landler,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.—
Zoe G. Phillips,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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As part of its probe, the U.S. is trying to extradite an Israeli private investigator named Amit Forlit from the United Kingdom for allegedly orchestrating the hacking campaign.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
24 Jan. 2025
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In Sugar, which premiered last April, Colin Farrell plays a movie-loving Los Angeles private investigator who is also — final spoiler warning — an alien.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near private eye
Cite this Entry
“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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