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
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Recent Examples of spiked
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Iran’s closure of the strait spiked global fuel prices and impacted the passage of other goods, including fertilizer.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2026
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 1 May 2026
House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Republican but not a DeSantis ally, spiked both ideas.
—Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiked
Adjective
And, like many a mother before her, Paula preps Agnes on what to do if she’s offered a cup of spiked punch.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Iran’s closure of the strait spiked global fuel prices and impacted the passage of other goods, including fertilizer.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
In the past two years, the number of inmates on the drug has spiked from 1,800 to more than 5,000 — an increase of 184%.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 1 May 2026
House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Republican but not a DeSantis ally, spiked both ideas.
—Bill Barrow, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiked
Adjective
-
This will be a bumper quarter for oil and gas shareholders, who have always learned to stick it out through the doldrums for spikey periods like this.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But a few things stick out as incorrect: The costume Diplo is wearing in the video does not match the actual, taller and spikier grassy costumes worn during the show.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The assailant stabbed the pope with a bayonet, but the assassination attempt was unsuccessful.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the officers multiple times.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
When people spend long periods in activities that require very little mental effort, those pathways may not be stimulated in the same way.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The induced impact of our cast and crew spending along with the workers along the supply chain in turn stimulated even more economic growth.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Against the backdrop of prison watchtowers and barbed wire, the day in Joliet featured three hours’ worth of pregame festivities, including 15 food trucks serving delicacies as quintessential as hot dogs and as unique as gourmet pasta in garlic bread cones.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
In the 20th century, some of the biggest names in comedy may be remembered more for their warm, inviting jokes than their more barbed satire, but the likes of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson had plenty to say about politics.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One of the bullets pierced Bradley’s heart and lung, Meyer said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
According to local outlet Listin Diario, Bonilla had undergone surgery to have rods and screws inserted into her back after a tumor was removed, though one screw allegedly pierced her spinal cord, leaving her immobilized from the ribs down.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Also called depression cake, this fudgy confection is stirred together right in the baking pan.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
-
And those cocktails are very well made, shaken or stirred.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The plane hitting the water is destructive enough without the help of a jagged coral reef (improbably far from any coastline) slicing through the aircraft’s undercarriage.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Known for their jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and vast icefields, the Canadian Rockies are among the world’s most stunning mountain ranges, forming a natural divide between Alberta and British Columbia.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
By the end of the learning unit, Burton said growth in the children could be seen as their vocabularies expanded to using words such as thermometer, blood pressure and punctured.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
-
By the end of the learning unit, Burton said growth in the children could be seen as their vocabularies expanded to using words such as thermometer, blood pressure and punctured.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiked. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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