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
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
Gary Oldman stars as the curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb, who leads MI5, a unit full of low-level spies that includes Jack Lowden’s River Cartwright.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 27 Sep. 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
The crackdown was ostensibly to ferret out spies, but in many cases the security forces used the war as a pretext to detain ethnic and religious minorities as well as Afghan migrants, according to Amnesty International.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
In the same year, the CIA launched a similar online mechanism to Silent Courier, also on the Tor network, also appealing for potential spies to pass them secret information.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
Gary Oldman stars as the curmudgeonly Jackson Lamb, who leads MI5, a unit full of low-level spies that includes Jack Lowden’s River Cartwright.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 27 Sep. 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
The crackdown was ostensibly to ferret out spies, but in many cases the security forces used the war as a pretext to detain ethnic and religious minorities as well as Afghan migrants, according to Amnesty International.
—Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
In the same year, the CIA launched a similar online mechanism to Silent Courier, also on the Tor network, also appealing for potential spies to pass them secret information.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 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
-
Fujimoto's violent world is set in an alternate timeline 1990s where Devils born of humanity's collective fears roam, and operatives known as Devil Hunters often form contracts with them to acquire their characteristics and powers.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Israeli warplanes had recently struck Hamas operatives in Doha, who were visiting a compound to discuss cease-fire negotiations.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Messages posing as highway-toll, postal-fee or delivery notices direct recipients to fake payment sites.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
According to Wolff, not everyone who stops by for coffee notices them or chooses to engage, but many do.—
Diana Hubbell,
Saveur,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bennett Lawson, who represents the 44th Ward, told CBS Chicago that tear gas was set off when neighbors protested federal agents pulling a construction worker from a home in Lakeview.—
Daniel S. Levine,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Last week, Judge Ellis ordered agents equipped with body cameras to activate them during immigration enforcement and public interactions.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
-
Take the quiz here … SECONDHAND SECRETS – Bargain hunter spots potential medieval treasures at thrift shop for $30.—
,
FOXNews.com,
9 Oct. 2025
-
On his daily jog, Donald spots Lee heading to his car, stopping to scratch his back on the flagstone façade of Donald’s mistress’s house, right on schedule.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Rest is Football is part of a recent trend in football coverage which sees ex-players turned pundits — such as Gary Neville, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards — being very open about their continuing allegiances to former clubs.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The new real estate series sees the Scott twins help wary buyers grapple with commitment issues to possibly make the biggest purchase of their lives.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spies. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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