as in detective
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the popular TV sleuth lives a much more action-packed life than do his real-world counterparts
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Recent Examples of sleuth
Written by a collection of ghost writers under the name Carolyn Keene, these books follow the life of Nancy Drew, an amateur sleuth with an eye for solving even the most perplexing puzzles.
—
Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 10 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, theories continue to circulate online, in podcasts, and among amateur sleuths trying to connect dots from the past.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Internet sleuths noticed something else: Noem was wearing a Rolex that reportedly sells for $50,000.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
McKnight believes amateur sleuths or hackers already know Trump's cell number, which could lead to unsolicited spoofing calls or other threats – much like the fake phone call the son of Altanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich made on Friday to NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 10 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, theories continue to circulate online, in podcasts, and among amateur sleuths trying to connect dots from the past.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Internet sleuths noticed something else: Noem was wearing a Rolex that reportedly sells for $50,000.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
McKnight believes amateur sleuths or hackers already know Trump's cell number, which could lead to unsolicited spoofing calls or other threats – much like the fake phone call the son of Altanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich made on Friday to NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
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Sacramento County sheriff’s detectives are searching for a suspect in the fatal stabbing of a man Sunday night outside a pub in Fair Oaks.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2025
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The woman showed detectives her call history and a text thread with Stumph, confirming her statement, court records said.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Similarly, in October 2023, Orange County investigators used the technology to identity Michael Ray Schlicht of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, whose body had been found in 1974 near in unincorporated Laguna Hills, now the city of Aliso Viejo, California.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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With a fingerprint match in hand, Santa Clara County investigators and San Jose police traveled to Ohio earlier this year to collect a DNA sample from Sims, with assistance from Ashtabula County authorities.—
Bethany Brown,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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