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
Zarzuela said the investigation involved patrol officers and detectives, leading to 37-year-old Gioacchino Esposito being identified as a suspect, according to Zarzuela.
—
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Islam, who was on an off-duty, paid security detail that afternoon, was promoted to NYPD detective at his funeral.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
There’s people who are gonna try to, like, do detective work, figure out the details — who is that about?
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Sheriff’s detectives believe that the driver attempted to burglarize the business but fled before deputies arrived.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Islam, who was on an off-duty, paid security detail that afternoon, was promoted to NYPD detective at his funeral.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
There’s people who are gonna try to, like, do detective work, figure out the details — who is that about?
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Sheriff’s detectives believe that the driver attempted to burglarize the business but fled before deputies arrived.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detective
Noun
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Forensic investigators will determine whether the shooting was accidental, police said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Kemp said investigators suspect the Brantley County fire was sparked by an aluminum party balloon that touched live power lines, creating an electrical arc that sparked flames on the ground.—
Emilie Megnien,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Authorities should also examine whether Allen was known to authorities and, if so, whether intelligence operatives could have pieced together his train travel and arrival in the president’s orbit, Shortland said.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Laron is the son of Ronnie Major, an ex-high-ranking Sin City Disciples operative, who was sentenced to over 24 years in prison in October.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detective. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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