| 100% | CASE | 4 | Private investigator's assignment |
| 68% | CASE | 4 | Private investigator's job |
| 68% | DETECTIVEWORK | 13 | Private investigator's specialty |
| 67% | CLAIM | 5 | Insurance investigator's assignment |
| 67% | CASE | 4 | Investigator's assignment |
| 66% | CASES | 5 | Private detective's assignments |
| 57% | SLEUTH | 6 | Private investigator |
| 57% | DETECTIVE | 9 | Private investigator |
| 56% | TEC | 3 | Private investigator, informally |
| 54% | TEC | 3 | Private investigator, in slang |
| 54% | TECS | 4 | Private investigators, for short |
| 53% | TEC | 3 | Private investigator, in old slang |
| 53% | DETECTIVE | 9 | Sleuth, private investigator |
| 52% | SHAFT | 5 | Private investigator played by Richard Roundtree |
| 52% | EXCOP | 5 | Many a private investigator |
| 52% | VERONICA | 8 | Ms. Mars, private investigator |
| 50% | ONACASE | 7 | Working, as a private investigator |
| 50% | CASE | 4 | Job for a private investigator |
| 48% | REACHER | 7 | Private investigator Jack created by the novelist Lee Child |
| 48% | SHAFT | 5 | Fictional private investigator played by Richard Roundtree |
| 48% | CAMERONDIAZ | 11 | "The Mask" actress who played a private investigator named Natalie in "Charlie's Angels": 2 wds. |
| 48% | ANGELS | 6 | Female private investigators who worked for Charlie |
| 47% | DREWBARRYMORE | 13 | "50 First Dates" actress who played a private investigator named Dylan in "Charlie's Angels": 2 wds. |
| 45% | REACHER | 7 | Lee Child private investigator Jack played by Tom Cruise |
| 43% | SARAPARETSKY | 12 | Mystery writer who created private investigator V.I. Warshawski (2 wds.) |
| 43% | ACCENT | 6 | Speech coach's assignment |
| 43% | ROUTE | 5 | Paper deliverer's assignment |
| 43% | CONCERT | 7 | Music critic's assignment |
| 43% | LANE | 4 | Olympic swimmer's assignment |
| 43% | SEAT | 4 | Airline passenger's assignment |