as in detectives
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
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Recent Examples of sleuths
For decades, the Zeigler case has fascinated the public around the world, leading to television shows, books, documentaries and a variety of crime sleuths creating various conspiracy theories.
—
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Amateur sleuths who tried to help solve the shocking case stirred up rumors online — many of which remained active and have only grown in the time since the college student homicides.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
That name is so common in England that searching for it would leave sleuths acting on a tip chasing endless possibilities.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
An army of amateur online sleuths has been parsing Burke’s lyrics, interviews and social media posts for clues, and the case has resulted in headlines in publications from the Los Angeles Times to the New York Post.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The investigation in the film becomes almost collaborative — with sleuths, researchers and the LAPD all involved.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
But what got internet sleuths hung up is how Alfonzo reportedly hit shelves months ahead of Thriller.
—Greg Poole, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
Social-media sleuths noted that the Dolphins did not give Tagovailoa an online happy birthday wish on Monday.
—Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Yet Internet sleuths and royal watchers continued to wonder whether Markle had been denied another tiara from the crown’s massive collection—the prime suspect being the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which Princess Eugenie wore for her own wedding later that year.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Amateur sleuths who tried to help solve the shocking case stirred up rumors online — many of which remained active and have only grown in the time since the college student homicides.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
That name is so common in England that searching for it would leave sleuths acting on a tip chasing endless possibilities.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
An army of amateur online sleuths has been parsing Burke’s lyrics, interviews and social media posts for clues, and the case has resulted in headlines in publications from the Los Angeles Times to the New York Post.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The investigation in the film becomes almost collaborative — with sleuths, researchers and the LAPD all involved.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
But what got internet sleuths hung up is how Alfonzo reportedly hit shelves months ahead of Thriller.
—Greg Poole, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
Social-media sleuths noted that the Dolphins did not give Tagovailoa an online happy birthday wish on Monday.
—Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Yet Internet sleuths and royal watchers continued to wonder whether Markle had been denied another tiara from the crown’s massive collection—the prime suspect being the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which Princess Eugenie wore for her own wedding later that year.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuths
Noun
-
Homicide detectives are investigating the incident as a drive-by shooting, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Wentworth Area detectives were investigating.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some of them said that the investigators initially did not contact important figures at the company.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
No information on the possible charges those people face was shared by investigators.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sleuths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuths. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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