as in investigator
a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons
the code used by the serial killer in his letters to the police was actually cracked by an amateur detective
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detective
The exchange doesn’t quite go as planned, and the kidnapper and his crew are way more organized and forward-planning than the detectives anticipated, repeatedly throwing them off the trail with decoys and swaps between motorcyclists all clad in the same head-to-toe black.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate and anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or mosotips.com.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
His character was paralyzed in a shooting, later becoming the first TV detective to use a wheelchair.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 May 2025
The steely-eyed detective was born in Calabria, Italy in 1879.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate and anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or mosotips.com.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
His character was paralyzed in a shooting, later becoming the first TV detective to use a wheelchair.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 May 2025
The steely-eyed detective was born in Calabria, Italy in 1879.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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Eliott Simpson, senior aviation accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said the plane departed from Teterboro, New Jersey, at about 11:15 p.m. on May 21 and flew to Wichita, Kansas.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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However, investigators are still working to determine what sparked the violence.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 May 2025
Noun
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Mission now accomplished, Kittridge and U.S. Intelligence operative Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham) — revealed to be the son of Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) from the first Mission — show up with a peace offering for Ethan.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
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Prior to joining the Hunger Games franchise, he was best known for his portrayal of CIA operative Felix Leiter in the James Bond films.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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