as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
unable to get the interest of the police, they hired a private eye to find their missing daughter
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Recent Examples of private eye
Wang, with her office full of helpers, her dialog that swings between that of a private eye and a guidance counsellor, and her ingenuity, is an undoubtedly fascinating central character.
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Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
Meanwhile, Ruby meets up with Miller (Paul Schulze) in a secluded woodsy spot to have a cryptic discussion about what to do with their resident private eye with a heart of gold.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2024
But his tenacious and loopy ex-wife, the private eye Fiona (Gordon), could foil their master plan.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Whether her character was a nurse, an inmate in a Philippine prison, a Nubian warrior, or a private eye in Kentucky, Grier always found time to put a hurting on any man or woman who provoked her.
—Odie Henderson, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye 
Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
Meanwhile, Ruby meets up with Miller (Paul Schulze) in a secluded woodsy spot to have a cryptic discussion about what to do with their resident private eye with a heart of gold.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2024
But his tenacious and loopy ex-wife, the private eye Fiona (Gordon), could foil their master plan.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024
Whether her character was a nurse, an inmate in a Philippine prison, a Nubian warrior, or a private eye in Kentucky, Grier always found time to put a hurting on any man or woman who provoked her.
—Odie Henderson, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for private eye
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private eye
Noun
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In 2010, cold case detectives recovered additional items and sent them for DNA testing, leading to the DNA profile of a male suspect.Alaa Elassar, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
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Police said no suspects were in custody and that area detectives were investigating the shooting.Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The lieutenant also said investigators have taken statements from the dozens of witnesses who were in the area, and are also gathering video surveillance.NBC San Diego, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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Mike Morgan, director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said Thursday that investigators were leaning toward ruling the start of the fire as human-caused.Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
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According to the lawsuit that Rocky later filed, the father of seven claimed Kevin hired a private detective to investigate Keiko.Alex Gurley, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
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Starring and executive-produced by Farrell (who currently headlines HBO’s The Penguin), Sugar is a contemporary and unique take on the private detective genre.Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 2 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The ride got a new storyline that starred Jessica as a private investigator — wearing a trench coat over her iconic outfit.Victoria Edel, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
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In 2021, Disneyland updated Jessica Rabbit’s look in the Anaheim park from her red dress to a trench coat, allegedly more in line with her new career as a private investigator, taking after Bob Hoskins’ Eddie Valliant in the project.Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near private eye
Cite this Entry
“Private eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20eye. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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