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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of private investigator
That included the costs of everything from paying bail to accommodations for her lawyers and to experts like private investigators, Vanity Fair reported.
—
Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
The day included two new defense witnesses: a private investigator named John Tedeman and Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, a Brown University med school professor and former 12-year chief medical examiner for the state of Rhode Island.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025
As police worked to figure that out, Allison’s family hired a private investigator named Marc Benson, who received an email from a woman named Susan Iannone.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 6 July 2025
Fort Worth Police Department officers went about 4 p.m. Wednesday to the 3300 block of East Belknap Street to help a private investigator who was attempting to arrest Pardue.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
The day included two new defense witnesses: a private investigator named John Tedeman and Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, a Brown University med school professor and former 12-year chief medical examiner for the state of Rhode Island.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025
As police worked to figure that out, Allison’s family hired a private investigator named Marc Benson, who received an email from a woman named Susan Iannone.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 6 July 2025
Fort Worth Police Department officers went about 4 p.m. Wednesday to the 3300 block of East Belknap Street to help a private investigator who was attempting to arrest Pardue.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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Metro Nashville Police Department homicide detectives are investigating after a woman's body, covered by a garbage bag, was discovered off the side of the road in South Nashville on July 19.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 July 2025
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Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was violently sucked into an MRI machine by a metal chain around his neck, police in New York said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Noun
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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
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The suspect fled on foot and dropped the gun, according to investigators.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Daniel Craig is back as private detective Benoit Blanc, with Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church all part of the ensemble.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
9 July 2025
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After Beom-jun leaves the hospital against medical advice, Ju-yeon uses the private detective agency to switch out Beom-jun’s pain medication for fentanyl.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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On one level, Resuscitation of a Hanged Man is a private eye novel.—
Dwyer Murphy
June 24,
Literary Hub,
24 June 2025
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The idea of a lesbian private eye isn’t even that new either, since Jess Franco had two in a pair of his most enjoyable exploitation movies (Sadisterotika and Kiss Me, Monster, both 1969).—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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