as in spies
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
for years we have had a mole in the enemy's national intelligence agency
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of moles
The answers have to come fast and furious, as the moles keep rearing their ugly heads.
—
Vic Tafur, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Yards with moles, mice, or other critters are especially tempting, triggering a canine's natural prey drive.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Even with leaks, moles, and a few red herrings thrown in the mix, the series’ characters are so trope laden and its visuals so loaded with symbolism that most of the narrative feels inevitable.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Allen said earlier studies suggest each flash produces about 250 moles of nitrogen oxides.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
Over five nail-biting episodes, Dalton and Toussaint must identify the individuals threatening their lives and families, prevent their political demise and track down moles within their ranks who might be disseminating information across enemy lines.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Most moles are considered ordinary and benign.
—Carrie Madormo, Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Vic Tafur, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Yards with moles, mice, or other critters are especially tempting, triggering a canine's natural prey drive.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Even with leaks, moles, and a few red herrings thrown in the mix, the series’ characters are so trope laden and its visuals so loaded with symbolism that most of the narrative feels inevitable.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Allen said earlier studies suggest each flash produces about 250 moles of nitrogen oxides.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
Over five nail-biting episodes, Dalton and Toussaint must identify the individuals threatening their lives and families, prevent their political demise and track down moles within their ranks who might be disseminating information across enemy lines.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Most moles are considered ordinary and benign.
—Carrie Madormo, Health, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moles
Noun
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Set during the Great Depression, a Milwaukee detective’s quest to find a Wisconsin cheese heiress lands him in Hungary and on a collision course with history to meet Nazis, spies, and swing musicians in the octogenarian literary giant’s first novel in over a decade.—
Tomi Obaro,
Vulture,
9 Sep. 2025
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The duo plays Emily and Matt, a married pair of ex-CIA spies forced out of retirement and back into the world of espionage after their secret identities are revealed.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to Joe Truzman, a senior analyst with the FDD, the Arrow Unit’s membership is drawn from multiple sources in Gaza, including police officers, operatives belonging to the Ministry of Interior’s security branches, fighters belonging to terrorist factions, and civilian volunteers.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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In 2010, Israeli operatives were successful in killing a senior Hamas operative in the United Arab Emirates.—
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen,
The Conversation,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Paxton’s interest in Paul’s plight was bizarre, obsessive and so far beyond normal operations at the attorney general’s office that the agency’s top officials struggled to convey their concerns during the hourslong meeting with two FBI agents.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The guild was involved with the WGA action in the States and has struck meaningful deals of late with the likes of the BBC, Netflix and the trade body that represents UK agents.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moles. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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