Synonyms of espionage

espionage

noun

ˈe-spē-ə-ˌnäzh 

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

• spying
• surveillance
• counterintelligence
• counterespionage
• reconnaissance
• intelligence
• wiretapping
• cloak-and-dagger
• tradecraft
• observation
• eavesdropping
• bugging
• lowdown
• goods
• dope

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of espionage

One of the most striking indications of the scale of this campaign is the explosion of high treason and espionage prosecutions since the start of the war. — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

This was followed by the creation of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) on July 22 to handle espionage and resistance agents, and the first raids were already being carried out. — David Szondy august 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Rogers was acquitted at trial of the more serious charge of conspiracy to commit economic espionage. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026

With stunning locations, death-defying stunts, and a twisty espionage plot, the film was a huge inspiration for early James Bond movies (From Russia With Love notably pays homage to Hitchcock’s movie with its incredible helicopter chase sequence). — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026