sleuth
4 synonyms for sleuth, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries.
“The amateur sleuth pieced together clues the police had missed.”
How to use sleuth
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
amateur sleuth
sleuth out the truth
Slightly old-fashioned or playful compared to plain "detective" or "investigate."
Etymology
A shortening of "sleuthhound," an old word for a bloodhound used to track people.
Full origin of sleuth →Frequently asked questions
What does “sleuth” mean?
The word “sleuth” means a detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries. In plain terms, a detective, or the act of investigating something like one.
How do you pronounce “sleuth”?
“Sleuth” is pronounced slooth (/sluːθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sleuth” in a sentence?
Here is “sleuth” used in a sentence: “The amateur sleuth pieced together clues the police had missed.”
What part of speech is “sleuth”?
Depending on how it is used, “sleuth” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “sleuth” have?
“Sleuth” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries.
