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
Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
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
Cianfrance supplies a real jerk of a manager in Peter Dinklage’s Mitch, on whom Jeffrey spies by setting up baby monitors in the back office.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Called Back in Action, the comedy action flick stars Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx as a pair of married former CIA spies who are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, the de facto leader of a bunch of down-on-their-luck spies, will be back in Slough House for more adventures based on Mick Herron's series of books.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
In a March interview with the Standard, the actress urged the writing of more movies about real-life women spies in place of a female 007.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
In recent months, hackers of seemingly every stripe — cybercriminals, spies, researchers and corporate defenders alike — have started including AI tools into their work.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2025
EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
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
Cianfrance supplies a real jerk of a manager in Peter Dinklage’s Mitch, on whom Jeffrey spies by setting up baby monitors in the back office.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Called Back in Action, the comedy action flick stars Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx as a pair of married former CIA spies who are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb, the de facto leader of a bunch of down-on-their-luck spies, will be back in Slough House for more adventures based on Mick Herron's series of books.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
In a March interview with the Standard, the actress urged the writing of more movies about real-life women spies in place of a female 007.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
In recent months, hackers of seemingly every stripe — cybercriminals, spies, researchers and corporate defenders alike — have started including AI tools into their work.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
-
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
Verb
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Consider the first scene of the pilot, in which Issa notices a man on the subway masturbating in her direction and takes justice into her own hands when no one does anything to stop him.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
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However, Walmart has also trimmed some of its tech jobs in the Bay Area this year, WARN notices the company has filed with the state EDD show.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
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
Verb
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As the hotel eyes its next half century, Skaletsky sees an even bolder approach to hospitality.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If one employee spots profanity or offensive language in an application, then it is sent to another employee, and possibly moved up the chain.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
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When a chameleon spots a bug, tiny muscles adjust the lens until the target is perfectly in focus, and that adjustment tells them exactly how far away dinner is.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Carlota sees Cherry hiding it, and puts it back in Laura’s room.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Designers explored the full spectrum for spring 2025, and this fall sees the check revival continue its reign.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spies. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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