investigator
One who probes
An investigator is someone who examines facts to uncover the truth.
The word applies across contexts: police investigators solve crimes, private investigators work for hire, and investigators for government agencies probe fraud or misconduct.
The lead investigator questioned witnesses for three hours.
Insurance companies employ investigators to verify claims.
In research contexts, principal investigators lead scientific studies.
Hints toward answers
- caseContainer or instance
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- witnessOne who attests
testimony · alibi · culprit · perpetrator · crime scene · evidence · deduction · motive
Statements of truth
- adjusterOne who calibrates
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- appraisalEstimation of worth
documentation · policyholder · inspection · damage · liability · accident · verification · settlement
Facts supporting truth
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- toxicologyScience of poisons
ballistics · blood spatter · trace evidence · pathology · crime lab · analysis · examination · reconstruction
Relating to education or theory
- scientistOne who studies nature
- scholarLearned, studious person
- analystOne who examines systematically
- studyDeliberate learning effort
data · methodology · findings · hypothesis · fieldwork · survey · interviews · documentation
Government's trial lawyer
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
- defendantParty facing charges
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
subpoena · discovery · indictment · testimony · affidavit · court · trial · case file
Thorough examination or tool
- inquestFormal death cause inquiry
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
- auditFormal accounts examination
review · fact-finding · assessment · evaluation · whistleblower · oversight · regulatory · compliance
Ongoing observation of something
- wiretapHidden listening device
- eavesdropListen to private conversations
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
intelligence · observation · infiltrate · covert · tracking · footage · camera · recording
clues
Hints toward answers
- caseContainer or instance
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
witness · testimony · alibi · culprit · perpetrator · crime scene · evidence · deduction · motive · interview
claims
Statements of truth
- adjusterOne who calibrates
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
appraisal · documentation · policyholder · inspection · damage · liability · accident · verification · settlement · examiner
evidence
Facts supporting truth
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- autopsyMedical examination after death
toxicology · ballistics · blood spatter · trace evidence · pathology · crime lab · analysis · examination · reconstruction · luminol
academic
Relating to education or theory
- scientistOne who studies nature
- scholarLearned, studious person
- analystOne who examines systematically
study · data · methodology · findings · hypothesis · fieldwork · survey · interviews · documentation · report
prosecutor
Government's trial lawyer
deposition · subpoena · discovery · indictment · testimony · affidavit · court · trial · case file · charges
probe
Thorough examination or tool
- inquestFormal death cause inquiry
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
audit · review · fact-finding · assessment · evaluation · whistleblower · oversight · regulatory · compliance · misconduct
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
- wiretapHidden listening device
- eavesdropListen to private conversations
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
reconnaissance · intelligence · observation · infiltrate · covert · tracking · footage · camera · recording · intercept
- Detectivesdetective, sleuth, private eye, gumshoe, PI
- government jobscivil servant, civil servants, federal jobs, public servant, government jobs
- justice workerspolice officer, detective, judge, prosecutor, defense attorney
- Lawmensheriff, constable, marshal, deputy, lawman
- insurance jobsinsurance adjuster, claims adjuster, underwriter, agent, broker
- prison staffprison guard, correctional officer, corrections officer, guard, warden
investigatorsuspect
Believe to be likely
perpetrator · criminal · culprit · offender · wrongdoer
investigatorsubject
Matter under discussion
informant · witness · source · person of interest · whistleblower
- private investigatorHired non-police detective
- congressional investigationLawmakers probing governmental matters
- under investigationSubject to formal inquiry
- criminal investigationOfficial probe into lawbreaking
- police investigationOfficial probe into wrongdoing
- preliminary investigationInquiry before formal proceedings
investigate, investigation, investigated, investigating, investigative, investigations, investigators, investigates, investigatory