as in operatives
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 notices
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
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Recent Examples of spies
Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
The Liu family had become targets of the country's spies due to his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The two professions are intimately linked, with both spies and explorers illuminating the unknown.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
But the show’s dangers aren’t limited to supernatural creatures—sinister scientists, Soviet spies, and government cover-ups all loom large.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Duplicity, directed by Tony Gilroy, follows two corporate spies, Claire (Roberts) and Ray (Owen), who become embroiled in a clandestine love affair.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Surrounded by spies, at odds with his colleagues, forced to proceed by stealth in a second language and an unfamiliar culture, Franklin had difficulties enough without having to hear of his son’s Loyalist activities.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
While on assignment, CIA Case Officer Erica Ambler (Biel) suffers a devastating injury, waking up without her memories in custody at a supermax prison for the world’s deadliest spies.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
For all the cruelty, paranoia and oppression of the Red Scare in the 1940s and 1950s, there really were Soviet spies in America.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
When Leo first spies the orphaned Josie singing on a Boston street corner, he’s struck by her resemblance to the Pendleton family, his father’s former employers and the victims of great tragedy when their baby was kidnapped in 1880.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Now in its fifth season, the Apple TV drama follows a gang of screw-up spies who are nobody’s idea of the Avengers, led by Gary Oldman’s irascible, flatulent Jackson Lamb.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
The Liu family had become targets of the country's spies due to his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The two professions are intimately linked, with both spies and explorers illuminating the unknown.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
But the show’s dangers aren’t limited to supernatural creatures—sinister scientists, Soviet spies, and government cover-ups all loom large.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Duplicity, directed by Tony Gilroy, follows two corporate spies, Claire (Roberts) and Ray (Owen), who become embroiled in a clandestine love affair.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
Surrounded by spies, at odds with his colleagues, forced to proceed by stealth in a second language and an unfamiliar culture, Franklin had difficulties enough without having to hear of his son’s Loyalist activities.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
While on assignment, CIA Case Officer Erica Ambler (Biel) suffers a devastating injury, waking up without her memories in custody at a supermax prison for the world’s deadliest spies.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
For all the cruelty, paranoia and oppression of the Red Scare in the 1940s and 1950s, there really were Soviet spies in America.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
And when Clara spies her classmate Miller Adams (Mason Thames) along the roadside, and decides to give him a ride, the film introduces a next-generation complication-that-isn’t-really-one.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
When Leo first spies the orphaned Josie singing on a Boston street corner, he’s struck by her resemblance to the Pendleton family, his father’s former employers and the victims of great tragedy when their baby was kidnapped in 1880.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spies
Noun
-
Earle-Sears’s blowout even stunned veteran operatives accustomed to Virginia’s blue tilt.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Nov. 2025
-
A lot of these operatives are operating from civilian areas.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Objects Are Mirrors Don’t describe a room — describe what that character notices in that room.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
-
During the clip, the owner notices a large chunk has been ripped (or bitten) out of the flooring, and there’s only one suspect hovering around nearby.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Polls show that economic impacts are driving the voting bloc the most and Latino businesses across the country, from Miami to Los Angeles, are seeing a drop in foot traffic because of ICE agents targeting their communities.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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But in 1991, federal agents charged him with lying and continuing to traffic drugs.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If the Phillies end up losing Schwarber to free agency, bringing in an All-Star like Tucker long term would be a great addition as the team eyes a return to the playoffs next season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Pozzo also eyes a reprise of collaborations, which over the years have seen Wolford partnering with brands such as Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, Vivienne Westwood, Missoni, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Adidas, GCDS and Sergio Rossi, to cite a few.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As a train barrels toward her near the final moments of the video, Perry spots a daisy on the tracks — seemingly a nod to her daughter — and dodges disaster.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rene Lima, a grower in Chicago who is set to inaugurate a cannabis education platform for Spanish-speaking seniors, spots a clear and promising pathway for DEI.—
Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Microsoft, which celebrated its 50th birthday in April, now sees opportunities to boost its governance.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Despite a local Taiwanese series that covered similar territory, OMG co-founder and CEO Steve Chicorel sees opportunity rather than obstacle.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spies. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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