private investigator

as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator

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 investigator According to court records, Recio agreed to bribe Costanzo, who was the DEA supervisor in Miami, in exchange for his providing the private investigator with confidential information about narcotics investigations. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025 Comments The private investigator cracked the case. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2025 Now, to be clear, NGN has stressed that none of its staff at The Sun, which is still around today, were ever involved in any unlawful activities, only private investigators. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025 As part of its probe, the U.S. is trying to extradite an Israeli private investigator named Amit Forlit from the United Kingdom for allegedly orchestrating the hacking campaign. Michael Copley, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
  • Following the incident, Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad detectives allegedly seized two firearms.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Brett Payne, the lead detective in the case, said at the same hearing.
    Eric Levenson, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • According to authorities, investigators have not found any evidence indicating the victim was responsible for the ATV thefts.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Two people who had been shot were found dead inside a Thornton home on Wednesday that investigators believe was intentionally set on fire, police said.
    Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Accountant 2 opens with the murder of Ray King (J.K. Simmons), who, since retiring from his job as Treasury Director, moonlit as a private detective.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Listen to this article Over the last quarter century, David Suchet became the definitive Hercule Poirot, starring as the fussy but perceptive private detective in 70 screen adaptations of Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • These private eyes spy on children in order to determine who is or isn’t living within the district’s strict attendance boundaries.
    Tim Deroche, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2025
  • In that time, Will has started over as a private eye in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 7 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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