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
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Recent Examples of private investigator
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
In Sugar, which premiered last April, Colin Farrell plays a movie-loving Los Angeles private investigator who is also — final spoiler warning — an alien.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
The Duke of Sussex accused The Sun of using a private investigator to illegally obtaining Meghan's call records and flight details at the start of their relationship in 2016.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
The Duke of Sussex's trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun, centers on allegations of unlawful information gathering by journalists and private investigators.
—Erin Hill, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for private investigator 
Michael Copley, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
In Sugar, which premiered last April, Colin Farrell plays a movie-loving Los Angeles private investigator who is also — final spoiler warning — an alien.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
The Duke of Sussex accused The Sun of using a private investigator to illegally obtaining Meghan's call records and flight details at the start of their relationship in 2016.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
The Duke of Sussex's trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun, centers on allegations of unlawful information gathering by journalists and private investigators.
—Erin Hill, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for private investigator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator
Noun
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After requesting discovery — or the case’s evidence — since August, she’s only gotten a handful of videos, and some other documents, including a two-page detective summary.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
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Season 1’s first ep was watched by 6.7M viewers and delivered the best launch amongst 25-49 year olds since hit detective series HIP, according to the French major.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The National Transportation Safety Board said a team of U.S. investigators will participate in the probe.—
Laya Neelakandan,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2025
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The man, who investigators believe was White and around 35 years old, offered Ronnie and his wife a short-term job at a logging camp that would also purportedly provide daycare for their children.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In addition to hacking phones, the tabloids hired private detectives and encouraged journalists to lie and misrepresent themselves to gain access to highly personal data.—
Mark Landler,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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Jacobson played the scheming private detective Erin Jones in 22 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1985-87, the CBS primetime soap about a wealthy California wine family.—
Zoe G. Phillips,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Dec. 2024
Noun
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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
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In that time, Will has started over as a private eye in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near private investigator
Cite this Entry
“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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