Antonyms for detective
dɪˈtɛk tɪvde·tec·tive

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:3.0 / 3 votes

1. detectivenoun

   a person employed to find information not otherwise available to the public.

   Synonyms:
   private investigator, dick, private detective, private dick, consulting detective

2. detectivenoun

   Synonyms:
   DT

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 2 votes

1. detective

   The scout and the spy are both employed to obtain information of the numbers, movements, etc., of an enemy. The scout lurks on the outskirts of the hostile army with such concealment as the case admits of, but without disguise; a spy enters in disguise within the enemy's lines. A scout, if captured, has the rights of a prisoner of war; a spy is held to have forfeited all rights, and is liable, in case of capture, to capital punishment. An emissary is rather political than military; sent rather to secretly influence opponents than to bring information concerning them; so far as he does the latter, he is not only an emissary, but a spy.

   Synonyms:
   emissary, scout, spy

Matched Categories

1. • Investigator
   • Policeman

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. detective, investigator, tec, police detectivenoun

   a police officer who investigates crimes

   Synonyms:
   researcher, investigator, tec, research worker, police detective

2. detectivenoun

   an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public

   Synonyms:
   investigator, tec, police detective

How to use detective in a sentence?

1. Diana Dragomir:

   There was quite some detective work involved, and the right people were there at the right time, but we were lucky, and we caught the signals, and they were really clear.

2. Randy Alfred:

   There was still a long history of mistrust between gay men and the police force, i mean, the homicide detective might have been in the vice squad two years ago when he busted you.

3. Henry Stawinski:

   Seeing the danger presented by Michael, the shooter, (Detective Colson) took action -- and in doing so, demonstrated extreme heroism because it was his actions that allowed officers to take a position where they could intervene and neutralize the threat, detective Colson drew fire to himself, and in doing so was mortally wounded.

4. Arthur C. Clarke:

   Politicians should read science fiction, not westerns and detective stories.

5. Bruce Aylward:

   You always hear about disease detective work and that is what Ebola is about now.

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