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

The detectives' interviews from the first Internal Affairs case were used against them in their own cases.

— Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Her large flat-screen living room television was missing, leading detectives at the time to surmise the killer may have known that footage from the victim’s surveillance cameras could be watched on that TV.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of detective

Noun

Nanos said on Saturday the investigation remains active as labs across the country continue to analyze DNA, videos and photos, while investigators look into the thousands of tips that continue to come in.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
Darby Township Police Chief Michael Sousa told Fox News Digital investigators believe two men got into a verbal altercation in the self-checkout area before one of them pulled out a handgun and fired.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 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

Garcia said the Directed Response Unit was contacted by a private investigator about Lindsey’s location at the M&M Inn and Suites, at 101 Palette Drive in far south Fort Worth.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
The show follows a private investigator, Rapp, played by Reid, who heads to a small coastal town to investigate the disappearance of Henry Park, played by Williams, the young heir to a powerful fishery.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 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 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of private detective

noun

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