as in operative
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
the government spy risked his life every day in the fight against global terrorism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to spot
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I spy a motel off in the distance, so let's spend the night there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spy
Luke Barr, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2026
Fox has kicked off its equivalent of pilot season with a straight-to-series order to The Interrogator, a spy drama series written, executive produced by and starring British actor-comedian Stephen Fry.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Feb. 2026
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
Close had opened his eyes long enough to spy Sahlins and insist, for the last time, that improv was a legitimate art form.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spy
Noun
Congressional Democrats are demanding answers about why the president's spy chief -- who normally deals with foreign intelligence threats -- is involved in the election probe.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2026
Fox has kicked off its equivalent of pilot season with a straight-to-series order to The Interrogator, a spy drama series written, executive produced by and starring British actor-comedian Stephen Fry.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
Close had opened his eyes long enough to spy Sahlins and insist, for the last time, that improv was a legitimate art form.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
Close had opened his eyes long enough to spy Sahlins and insist, for the last time, that improv was a legitimate art form.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
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In 2008, after the Democrats’ sweeping victory of the White House and Congress, the longtime Republican operative Ralph Reed began studying exit polls to understand why so many conservatives who wouldn’t have dreamed of voting for Al Gore or John Kerry had supported Obama.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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When their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances, the pair become CIA operatives.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Another source said the comedian was once frequently spotted around town over the summer but hasn't been seen since.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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This – along with memorizing their individual preferences and an eye for spotting the next big thing in fashion – has cemented her name in a highly competitive industry.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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He was also sanctioned by the European Union in January 2019 following a nerve agent attack in Salisbury, England, which the British government said was carried out by GRU agents to poison a former Russian spy.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Right now, enforcement agents are often using administrative warrants, or internal documents signed by immigration officers that authorize specific arrests but not searches.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Buyers were also eying K-beauty makeup.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
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The city's purchase of the downtown Indianapolis heliport, which sits on land eyed as a potential site for a future soccer stadium, has stalled after Attorney General Todd Rokita and a Fort Wayne billionaire asked federal officials to reconsider their approval of the deal.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Le, who was working undercover, was shot while inside his vehicle after responding to one of multiple burglaries at a cannabis business on Embarcadero near Fifth Ave.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
11 Dec. 2025
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Four other agents accompanied me, all also operating undercover.—
Martin Suarez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But after COLAs were paid for a couple of years, someone noticed the formula was wrong.—
Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Instead of waiting for their behavior to reach crisis mode, parents learn to notice patterns early, stay calm, and guide them through the turbulence of growing up.—
Dorian Johnson,
Parents,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The fun of The Mole is in putting yourself in the contestants' shoes; like them (well, all but one of them), the audience is not informed of who the mole actually is until the very end.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Feb. 2026
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Following season 2's dramatic ending, which unveiled part of a plot to steal the presidency, Basso agrees to be Catherine's mole.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Another source said the comedian was once frequently spotted around town over the summer but hasn't been seen since.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Ukrainian civilians are struggling with one of the coldest winters in years, which saw temperatures dip to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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