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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of spied
For years, the rover ascended a feature called Mount Sharp within the crater, aiming to reach clay-rich layers that orbiters circling the planet had spied.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
And Mindi said at one point she was being spied upon.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Residents near Hereford House who spied the visitors that morning may have wondered what their arrival portended for the town.
—Longreads, 5 Mar. 2026
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
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
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
And Mindi said at one point she was being spied upon.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Residents near Hereford House who spied the visitors that morning may have wondered what their arrival portended for the town.
—Longreads, 5 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spied
Verb
-
His approach first gained attention years ago on the San Francisco waterfront, when his birds took flight along the Embarcadero and were spotted by a National Geographic photographer, who followed their path back to him.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
The Chicago Tribune reports a third eaglet has been spotted in a nest at Oak Woods Cemetery in the Grand Crossing neighborhood.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Jean noticed that the wait times displayed on her internal scorecard often exceeded an hour.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Jaxon was at daycare April 2 when one of the workers noticed a rash on his body — his arms, legs and bottom, plus a ring around his neck.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Moving a blade back and forth to try to saw biscuits apart will make their layers stick (and ruin the rise).—
Ella Quittner,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The lot being eyed for development is part of the city’s First Street TIF district.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Vertical construction is expected to begin on the Target in June, Ahlquist said, with opening eyed for May 2027.—
Rose Evans
Updated May 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Bournemouth’s departing Andoni Iraola is also still regarded as a strong contender, having been earmarked from the outset.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Our team had intimate conversations with ChatGPT, regarded as taboo, which unlocked the insight that people want to be fully seen without being judged or penalized.—
Sarah DaVanzo,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spied. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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