as in investigator
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the code used by the serial killer in his letters to the police was actually cracked by an amateur detective
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 detective
The victim’s relatives showed detectives a photo of Ackerman and the victim in the same area the victim’s body had been located, according to an affidavit.
—
Caroline Zimmerman
july 7, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025
Meanwhile, back at the Marine Mammal Care Center, the scientific detective work is about to begin.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 8 July 2025
The incident is under investigation by homicide detectives.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 7 July 2025
Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took over the investigation, collecting evidence at the scene and questioning witnesses.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Caroline Zimmerman
july 7, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025
Meanwhile, back at the Marine Mammal Care Center, the scientific detective work is about to begin.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 8 July 2025
The incident is under investigation by homicide detectives.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 7 July 2025
Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took over the investigation, collecting evidence at the scene and questioning witnesses.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
-
The suspect fled on foot and dropped the gun, according to investigators.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
23 July 2025
-
According to investigators, Melina and her father crossed into the U.S. from Canada on July 11 for what was supposed to be a vacation.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, Jared Fleisher, one of Gilbert's top operatives, gave mayoral candidate Fred Durhal III's campaign $2,000.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
Neither a complacent, neutered Congress nor a Supreme Court controlled by lifelong GOP partisan operatives appear willing or able to stop it.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share