1
as in stabs
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 stimulates
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
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Recent Examples of spikes
Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
According to outage tracking site DownDetector, spikes in service issues have been reported at Starbucks, Kroger, and Costco—three companies that rely heavily on cloud infrastructure for daily operations.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
But real-time forecasts can alert you when activity spikes.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
The White House warned that Americans should expect airport delays and disruptions if the shutdown spills into the Thanksgiving holiday, when travel historically spikes.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
In Arizona, mosquito season can stretch from March to October, especially after monsoon rains when humidity spikes.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The caveat is that the comparison is to 2024, an election year, when viewership typically spikes.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Consider selling high if his value spikes.
—Jake Ciely, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
When stress spikes, the idea of taking a deep breath can seem like a futile life hack.
—Juli Fraga, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
The team identified a continuous midline feature that began as a fleshy crest along the neck and trunk and transitioned over the hips into a single row of spikes running down the tail — each spike positioned over a single vertebra and fitted to each other.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Your skin prickles, adrenaline spikes — and that primal fight-or-flight instinct kicks in.
—Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
According to outage tracking site DownDetector, spikes in service issues have been reported at Starbucks, Kroger, and Costco—three companies that rely heavily on cloud infrastructure for daily operations.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
But real-time forecasts can alert you when activity spikes.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
The White House warned that Americans should expect airport delays and disruptions if the shutdown spills into the Thanksgiving holiday, when travel historically spikes.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
In Arizona, mosquito season can stretch from March to October, especially after monsoon rains when humidity spikes.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Oct. 2025
The caveat is that the comparison is to 2024, an election year, when viewership typically spikes.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Consider selling high if his value spikes.
—Jake Ciely, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
When stress spikes, the idea of taking a deep breath can seem like a futile life hack.
—Juli Fraga, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spikes
Noun
-
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Play pool, darts or cornhole, and devour a viral-sensation smash burger from their food truck, Jabs.—
Kathryn Streeter,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Each type of enrollee is expected to see an increase in their monthly premiums, with most being significant jumps, according to the data.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Carlsbad’s City Council authorized staffers Tuesday to advertise for construction bids on Veterans Memorial Park, which will be the city’s largest at 94 acres and will include its first family bike park with jumps, a pump track and a slalom course.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alex breaks free and, in a panic, repeatedly stabs Evelyn with the syringe.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Spike takes one of Kelson's tranquilizer darts filled with morphine and stabs Samson in the arm with it.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mercury entering Sagittarius today stimulates your creative faculties.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The low-level, external electrical charge stimulates the body’s internal repair mechanism.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This super creamy, cheesy casserole lets the crispy asparagus spears shine.—
Krissy Tiglias,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Paired with zucchini spears and pine nuts, your tongue tussles with pillowy soft textures and crunch.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Automatic 5-year contract extensions, and four years' notice for contract termination.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Beyoncé’s Cécred hair care line recently launched its newest protection collection aimed at tackling the challenges of wearing protective hairstyles and extensions.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
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At a handful of locations, these spikes extended out to nearly a meter, looking more like lances than anything needed to ward off a close-in attack.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spikes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spikes. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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