Detectives are often associated with solving mysteries and investigating crime scenes. Some synonyms that could be used for the word detective include investigator, sleuth, gumshoe, private eye, and agent. While they all refer to similar roles, each word carries a slightly different connotation and can be used depending on the context. For example, an investigator may work for a government agency or a private company, while a sleuth typically refers to a more amateur detective who solves crimes as a hobby. Gumshoe is a slang term that derives from the soft-soled shoes worn by detectives to avoid making noise, while a private eye is more archaic and usually associated with the hard-boiled detective stories of the 20th century.