as in spotted
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of spied
But there’s no snow on the 101 Freeway near Thousand Oaks — which might come as a surprise to those who spied an errant travel alert from the California Department of Transportation.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The moon's immense shadow was also spied by South Korea's GEO-KOMPSAT-2A weather satellite from its perch 22,370 miles (36,000 km) above Earth in geostationary orbit, close to the shadowy line of the night-day terminator.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Idling along the road one day for a lunch break, Campos spied someone building houses.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
The organization added that Stone spied Mo on the red carpet, posed for a few photos with the pup, and then decided the dog would be the perfect pet for her youngest son, Quinn.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Where skeptics spied a bubble, the revolution’s leaders saw the dawn of a new era of abundance.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Dec. 2025
The real story of Barbie’s origins is much messier, and more interesting—especially as told in Barbieland, Tarpley Hitt’s rollicking tale of how Mattel spied, copied and stole its way to market dominance, then fought with military intensity to compel us to buy more and more.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
The origin story has it that in 1953 Ernie Blake, a Swiss-German transplant, flew in a little four-seater over northern New Mexico, spied the epic possibility in a steep, north-facing slope, then set to work, clearing and constructing his idea of a perfect ski mountain.
—Michael Paterniti, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025
McCann spied an errant pumpkin.
—Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The moon's immense shadow was also spied by South Korea's GEO-KOMPSAT-2A weather satellite from its perch 22,370 miles (36,000 km) above Earth in geostationary orbit, close to the shadowy line of the night-day terminator.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Feb. 2026
Idling along the road one day for a lunch break, Campos spied someone building houses.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026
The organization added that Stone spied Mo on the red carpet, posed for a few photos with the pup, and then decided the dog would be the perfect pet for her youngest son, Quinn.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Where skeptics spied a bubble, the revolution’s leaders saw the dawn of a new era of abundance.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Dec. 2025
The real story of Barbie’s origins is much messier, and more interesting—especially as told in Barbieland, Tarpley Hitt’s rollicking tale of how Mattel spied, copied and stole its way to market dominance, then fought with military intensity to compel us to buy more and more.
—Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
The origin story has it that in 1953 Ernie Blake, a Swiss-German transplant, flew in a little four-seater over northern New Mexico, spied the epic possibility in a steep, north-facing slope, then set to work, clearing and constructing his idea of a perfect ski mountain.
—Michael Paterniti, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025
McCann spied an errant pumpkin.
—Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spied
Verb
-
Brasser, who was a passenger in a vehicle nearby driven by another suspect, spotted Starzynski walking back to his vehicle and placing a blue bank bag in his trunk.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
At a Sheetz gas station equipped with high-resolution cameras, authorities spotted a car matching Shelia Eddy’s vehicle passing through around midnight—traveling in the direction of Blacksville.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The shift has reinforced the quiet confidence that coaches and observers have long noticed in Tien.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Visitors who walk through the halls of Ward Parkway Mall have noticed empty storefronts being turned into displays showcasing local artwork.—
Joseph Hernandez
March 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
-
During the trial, jurors learned about grim Google searches Brian had made after his wife died, including how to saw a body and how to clean blood off of wood floors.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Then Hannah eyed the linen closet.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The city has eyed a shuttle service for years.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
She was regarded as the female Christ by her followers but accused of witchcraft by outsiders.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Policymakers regarded tuition-free college as a sound economic investment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spied. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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