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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spies
Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Remember the spies, Boris and Natasha?
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
Xi’s brand of resentful nationalism, meanwhile, comes with a strong anti-American streak, and security apparatchiks see CIA spies everywhere.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Santat’s illustrations begin with straightforward, muted sincerity and become brighter, busier, and more gleeful—filling every corner of the page—as Sharpson’s narrator becomes ever more unhinged, ranting about fish spies, fish disguises, and fish taking over the world.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The furry white marsupials, which waddle back into remote areas — places where humans would not otherwise set foot — are almost like spies penetrating the secret lives of pythons.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Our spies tell us that the 2028 Lamborghini Temerario Spyder will debut some time in 2027.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 16 Apr. 2026
The pair, who were arrested in May 2022 while visiting Iran, were accused by Iranian state television of being spies who sought to stir up unrest, according to Reuters.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The spies called it right, but the president went another direction.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Alma peers through a keyhole and spies her mother (Susanne Wuest) standing before a candlelit shrine to the family’s dead.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
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
Noun
Having played British spies, lords, WWII fighters pilots and even wrestlers, Jack Lowden has now taken on his most contemporary role to date.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026
Remember the spies, Boris and Natasha?
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
Xi’s brand of resentful nationalism, meanwhile, comes with a strong anti-American streak, and security apparatchiks see CIA spies everywhere.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Santat’s illustrations begin with straightforward, muted sincerity and become brighter, busier, and more gleeful—filling every corner of the page—as Sharpson’s narrator becomes ever more unhinged, ranting about fish spies, fish disguises, and fish taking over the world.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The furry white marsupials, which waddle back into remote areas — places where humans would not otherwise set foot — are almost like spies penetrating the secret lives of pythons.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Our spies tell us that the 2028 Lamborghini Temerario Spyder will debut some time in 2027.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 16 Apr. 2026
The pair, who were arrested in May 2022 while visiting Iran, were accused by Iranian state television of being spies who sought to stir up unrest, according to Reuters.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The spies called it right, but the president went another direction.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
When Claire and Frank retreat to Inverness on holiday following the end of WWII, Frank spies the spectre of a Highlander staring up into Claire's window that abruptly vanishes.
—Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Alma peers through a keyhole and spies her mother (Susanne Wuest) standing before a candlelit shrine to the family’s dead.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
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
-
Years later, drawn into a covert network of operatives and manipulated through a web of corruption, Clay must decide whether to become the weapon he was shaped to be or dismantle the system from within.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities should also examine whether Allen was known to authorities and, if so, whether intelligence operatives could have pieced together his train travel and arrival in the president’s orbit, Shortland said.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the bear notices you, slowly back away while facing the bear.—
Devarrick Turner,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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Darren Staples/Getty Images This is a weekly column where Jon Mackenzie notices something from one of the weekend fixtures in the Premier League.—
Jon Mackenzie,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bo Erickson | Reuters A source who was attending the event, and was briefed by Secret Service after the shooting, told CNBC’s Eamon Javers that a man with a shotgun had approached metal detectors and was shot by Secret Service agents.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2026
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Players and coaches have become maddeningly mealy-mouthed, striving to avoid upsetting agents, sponsors, owners, fans, thin-skinned politicians, and whoever else might object.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Microsoft still retains its equity stake in OpenAI’s for-profit company, as that company eyes a possible IPO later this year.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Bright’s ‘Wellsy’ asks Garrett Graham at a party as Josh Heuston’s Justin Kohl eyes her and nods, beer in hand.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This exercise is intended to not only show where the Rangers have players in place for 2026-27, and which spots those players are likely to occupy, but also to highlight the most glaring holes.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The two have starred in a number of commercials — including the 2025 and 2026 Super Bowl spots — for the beer brand, putting their hilarious dynamic on display.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Set in 1645, the story sees a privileged young bride (Thatcher) accused of witchcraft on her wedding day and pursued by a ruthless witch hunter (Alwyn).—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Hitting theaters nearly 20 years after the first movie’s premiere, The Devil Wears Prada sequel sees original cast members Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprising their roles in the cult favorite film.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spies. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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