as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 sleuth
Independent sleuths can interfere with active investigations.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 4 May 2026
No region of the state has more bears than Central Florida, which a sleuth has put at 1,200 bears.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Online sleuths have been successful in flagging suspicious trades such as the bet that prosecutors say Van Dyke placed on Maduro's capture.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Social media sleuths had already dug up wild comments from Russini about Vrabel and her husband before Vrabel’s decision to step away on Wednesday, but the additional posts that were found appeared to be too much for Russini.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
The Week Us, TheWeek, 4 May 2026
No region of the state has more bears than Central Florida, which a sleuth has put at 1,200 bears.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Online sleuths have been successful in flagging suspicious trades such as the bet that prosecutors say Van Dyke placed on Maduro's capture.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Social media sleuths had already dug up wild comments from Russini about Vrabel and her husband before Vrabel’s decision to step away on Wednesday, but the additional posts that were found appeared to be too much for Russini.
—Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
-
Guy Ritchie directed both Sherlock Holmes films, which starred Jude Law as the titular detective's sidekick Watson.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
Her detective Lord Peter Wimsey was usually to be found in the upper-class households and clubs that defined a certain strata of English society in the 1920s and 1930s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt told 6 ABC that investigators believe a group of friends, who included two boys and two girls, were hanging out at the home when the fatal shooting occurred.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
State police later spoke to Vargas’ mother who said their lawyer had advised them not to talk to investigators and would contact police on their behalf, according to the warrant affidavit.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
