Sherlock Holmes

NOUN

detective

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agent informer police officer private eye private investigator prosecutor reporter sleuth spy

STRONG

analyst bloodhound bull constable cop dick eavesdropper eye fed fink flatfoot gumshoe nark peeper roper scout sergeant shadow shamus shoofly snoop tail

WEAK

P.I. bird dog plainclothes officer slewfoot

NOUN

inquirer

Synonyms

STRONG

agent analyst attorney auditor detective examiner gumshoe hound inquisitor inspector investigator police prosecutor querier quester researcher reviewer sleuth snooper spy tester

WEAK

plainclothes officer private detective private eye prober undercover cop

NOUN

investigator

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agent analyst auditor detective examiner inspector police prosecutor researcher

STRONG

attorney gumshoe hound inquirer reviewer sleuth snooper spy tester

WEAK

plainclothes officer private detective private eye undercover cop

NOUN

private detective

Synonyms

STRONGEST

detective gumshoe private eye private investigator sleuth

WEAK

P.I. beagle dick flatfoot inquiry agent inspector investigator operative private dick skip tracer sleuthhound spotter tec

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sherlockians and film historians weigh in on their favorite Sherlock Holmes adaptations, from 1916’s “Sherlock Holmes” to 2012’s “Elementary.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

Sherlock Holmes would have called it the case of the dog that didn’t bark.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

That aspect of copyright law engendered a lengthy dispute waged by the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle against creative artists wishing to put Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson into new works.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

Director Guy Ritchie, who has of course tangled with the famous detective before, has this time opted to explore the origin story of Sherlock Holmes.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

“I do. And Sherlock Holmes would think so, too. Have you ever read those books, by the way? Wonderful stuff. Especially on rainy days.”

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

Sherlock Holmes

Example Sentences

Related Words