PRIVATE DETECTIVES Synonyms: 22 Similar Words

private detectives

noun

plural of private detective

as in detectives

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

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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 detectives Meanwhile, private detectives probed Hadley’s vulnerabilities as a witness. — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 The trio took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as part of a PaleyFest event commemorating five decades of Charlie's Angels, the groundbreaking ABC series that followed a group of female private detectives. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 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 Richard Bronswijk, who heads the Dutch police art crime unit, says he's seen private detectives create problems when money is the driver. — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026 The untitled half-hour project is a workplace comedy set in the world of private detectives, which continues the proud tradition of Los Angeles private eyes that began with Philip Marlowe and will end with this show. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026 And after testimony in Miami one day, former Police Chief and Carollo foe Art Acevedo, was followed from the courthouse to a restaurant in Coral Gables by a couple of private detectives. — Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026 The publisher has argued that evidence from private detectives can't be trusted. — Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for private detectives

Noun

Cynthia also thanked the KCSO detectives for finally solving the case.

— Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026
Hicks said detectives are working to determine Williams' motives, and said the suspect's family was cooperating fully with law enforcement.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of detectives

Noun

Harry and the six other high-profile claimants failed to prove their allegations that the publisher unlawfully obtained private information through methods including private investigators, deception, phone hacking and corrupt payments.

— Erin Hill, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Depending on the circumstances, this may include private investigators, attorneys, cybersecurity professionals, exchanges, regulators or law enforcement agencies.

— Jon Stojan June 23, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026

Definition of private investigators

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private detective

private detectives

privateer

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“Private detectives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20detectives. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of private detectives

noun

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