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
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Recent Examples of private investigator
Her family in 2018 also engaged in a legal battle with OPD in order to access records that their private investigators could use in a search.
—
Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The film is billed as a comedy following a wayward private investigator and a volatile ex-model who are pulled into a murder investigation during the chaos of Miami Swim Week.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
Harry suggested that information had come from eavesdropping on his phone calls or having private investigators snoop on him.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Harry, along with Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and others, alleges the publisher hired private investigators to bug their cars, obtain personal records and eavesdrop on calls.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The film is billed as a comedy following a wayward private investigator and a volatile ex-model who are pulled into a murder investigation during the chaos of Miami Swim Week.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
Harry suggested that information had come from eavesdropping on his phone calls or having private investigators snoop on him.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Harry, along with Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and others, alleges the publisher hired private investigators to bug their cars, obtain personal records and eavesdrop on calls.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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Wright, who formerly worked as a detective, said the video contains apparent facial features such as a mustache and that investigators should be able to calculate height, shoe size and brands of clothing.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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DeOrzio turned himself in to county detectives Tuesday morning and is awaiting an arraignment and preliminary hearing.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Game and Fish investigators requested camera video from homeowners in the areas where poaching activity was known to have occurred.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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According to the subsequent findings of state investigators, Cooke took the child to the basement of her home and placed her in a Pack ‘n Play portable crib for a nap.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The recipients spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on private detectives and expert analysis.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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In an alternate version of 1940s Hollywood where cartoon characters live alongside humans, private detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) tries to get to the bottom of who framed toon star Roger Rabbit for murder.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Princess Lilibet and her brother, Prince Archie, 6, are often kept out of the private eye by their parents, but the siblings have recently been featured in a number of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's photos — and some of their philanthropic work.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
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On Friday, the network added a comedy, a private eye show from Brooklyn Nine-Nine alumni Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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