1
as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
scorpions use their stinger-equipped tails to spike their prey
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in stimulated
to give life, vigor, or spirit to
he spiked what otherwise would have been a dry economic lecture with some jokes and anecdotes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spiked
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 May 2026
On a more personal level, the war boosted gas prices past $6 a gallon and spiked inflation worries.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
Prices spiked, but far less than the experts had predicted.
—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiked
Adjective
Lighter, lower-alcohol drinks are trending as consumers look for healthier alternatives to their favorite sips, and spiked water is a great way to go.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 May 2026
On a more personal level, the war boosted gas prices past $6 a gallon and spiked inflation worries.
—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
The rising price of oil created a black market for grease, and as noted in a 2008 New York Times article, restaurant grease thefts have spiked; the article opened with the story of a man who stole 300 gallons of grease from a Burger King.
—
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
Prices spiked, but far less than the experts had predicted.
—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiked
Adjective
-
Still, even with the Justice Department approving the WBD merger late last week without any concessions, the Paramount Skydance’s CEO’s happy face masked some spikey obstacles to the merger from overseas and in state houses over Ellison’s strategic bear hug with the ex-Apprentice host.
-
Other diamonds have spikier settings resembling thorns.
Verb
-
The latest homicide was reported on Tuesday after a man was stabbed in the 400 block of South San Joaquin Street in Downtown Stockton.
-
With that knife, Bland stabbed her husband in the head and neck — and, afterward, sliced her teenage daughter in the forearm as the teen tried to get Emii from Bland, the report says.
Verb
-
How to handle it By bearing in mind that Gemini is happiest when they’re being stimulated mentally can actually help preempt and address any fussiness.
-
When your muscles work against resistance, bone tissue is stimulated and becomes stronger.
Adjective
-
Devil's Rope Museum in McLean, Texas Roughly an hour's drive from Amarillo, the Devil's Rope Museum is an interesting stop, with exhibits dedicated to the history of Route 66 in Texas, as well as the importance of barbed wire and its impact on the American West.
-
Johnson was initially refused entry, but got inside by using a set of stairs to hop a barbed wire fence, prosecutors said.
Verb
-
Players like Charlie Sifford (first Black player to earn a PGA Tour card), Lee Elder (first Black player in the Masters) and Calvin Peete (12 wins on the PGA Tour) are on the short list of African-Americans who pierced golf's racial barrier.
-
Once the water boils, add the florets and cook until the largest pieces can be easily pierced with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes.
Verb
-
Clark’s passion for coffee was stirred far from Los Gatos.
-
The flames were visible to anyone driving or walking down Columbus Drive, and the sight in the public park stirred emotions and shocked many.
Adjective
-
Across Washington and Oregon, jagged walls of blackberry brambles choke out nearly every hiking trail, highway shoulder, and vacant lot in the region.
-
Why does Orange County have so many families living on the jagged edges of the local economy?
Verb
-
Watt had his lung punctured by the medical staff last season and will turn 32 in October.
-
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).
Cite this Entry
“Spiked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiked. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
