PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Synonyms: 22 Similar Words

private investigator

noun

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

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 The series follows Rapp (Noah Reid), a private investigator who arrives in the small coastal town of Whittock, to investigate the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery, Henry Park (Williams). — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 An ultra-Orthodox private investigator named Avi Lehrer called Shraga and claimed to have bank records showing that Netanyahu and his family held millions of dollars in offshore accounts. — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026 At the news conference Monday, Khalil also accused the university of surveilling pro-Palestinian students and hiring private investigators to monitor him. — Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Instead of being someone who attracts trouble like Jack Reacher, Neagley is a private investigator who chooses her battles. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for private investigator

Recent Examples of Synonyms for private investigator

Noun

Homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took over the investigation.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Eventually, the detectives find the three men and bring them to trial.

— Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of detective

Noun

Andy Anderson, once a private detective for Griffin Investigations, demonstrated this remarkable feat of motivated reasoning in the 2004 documentary The Hot Shoe.

— Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Along the way, Savannah was joined by her father who, in his youth, had been a private detective.

— Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of private detective

Noun

The story revolves around private eye Raymond Gunn (Rockwell), who is drawn into a case involving murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova, voiced by Johansson.

— Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
That’s how John Sugar goes from conscientious private eye to would-be assassin.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Definition of private eye

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private eyes

private investigator

private investigators

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“Private investigator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/private%20investigator. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of private investigator

noun

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