Definition of sleuthnext
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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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 sleuth Grasping each other, sleuth and villain plummet to their watery deaths at the foot of the Reichenbach Falls. Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 Tips have poured in from as far away as Kansas, with internet sleuths and true crime influencers tracking every theory. Eileen Murphy, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Cole played the snarky writer and amateur sleuth Jughead Jones across Riverdale’s seven-season run on The CW. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026 Fans started to act as super sleuths, investigating Inviz’s actions and trying to track down Gerasimov. Kyle MacNeill, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sleuth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sleuth
Noun
  • Michelle Monaghan plays detective Amanda Beck, with Hamish Linklater and Owen Teague also starring.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Psychiatrists need to be good detectives during the entire process, even after a patient is on a medicine.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • At Fox Hollow, investigators started with remains but few clues about their identities.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Joseph Weiss was charged in 2023 with lying to federal investigators about his brother’s reputed mob ties, including his previous contacts with Schweihs and Dominic.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sleuth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sleuth. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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