espionage

noun

ˈe-spē-ə-ˌnäzh How to pronounce espionage (audio)
Definition of espionagenext
as in spying
the secret gathering of information on others the acts of espionage on behalf of the Confederacy carried on by Belle Boyd and Rose Greenhow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of espionage Chen was charged with espionage on May 1, 2025, but has not yet stood trial. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 Nolan has embraced an elaborately mathematical approach to storytelling and somehow applied it successfully to the subjects of subconscious corporate espionage, space exploration, and World War II. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 July 2026 The seismologist was detained in November 2024 by state security agents during a personal trip to visit his parents in Beijing, and he has been charged with espionage, Global Reach said. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 The suit alleges nothing short of a wide-scale corporate espionage campaign carried out by ex-Apple employees who joined OpenAI, according to the filing. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for espionage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espionage
spying
Noun
  • However, these technological advances are not widely deployed due in part to concerns from privacy activists, who maintain they necessitate backdoors that could be exploited by governments and nefarious actors to enable wholesale spying.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026
  • But American lawmakers are concerned and are sounding the alarm that commercially available adtech data and mobile communication networks aren’t secure enough to prevent that kind of spying.
    — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026
Definition of spying

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espies
espionage
esplanade
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Cite this Entry

“Espionage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espionage. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on espionage

Nglish: Translation of espionage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about espionage

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