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
Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
Companies like Edo are working with thousands of properties to adjust energy use in real time when demand spikes.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Cortisol and melatonin work like a seesaw — when one spikes, the other drops.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
The chance of rain and storms spikes late in the afternoon, into the evening.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The bill, shared first with Semafor, comes as the war in Iran spikes energy costs.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The metal spikes and rails mysteriously installed earlier this year on downtown Austin planter-box benches have been removed.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
By Nathan Risser, Bloomberg California’s energy regulator is keeping a close watch on the state’s gasoline market for potential price gouging as the Iran war spikes oil and fuel costs around the globe.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
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
Information as diverse as plant hydration and urban hot zones — the temperature spikes that happen in places like Phoenix, Las Vegas and Inglewood — are tracked and stored for public use via the ECOSTRESS system.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
Companies like Edo are working with thousands of properties to adjust energy use in real time when demand spikes.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Cortisol and melatonin work like a seesaw — when one spikes, the other drops.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
The chance of rain and storms spikes late in the afternoon, into the evening.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
The bill, shared first with Semafor, comes as the war in Iran spikes energy costs.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The metal spikes and rails mysteriously installed earlier this year on downtown Austin planter-box benches have been removed.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
By Nathan Risser, Bloomberg California’s energy regulator is keeping a close watch on the state’s gasoline market for potential price gouging as the Iran war spikes oil and fuel costs around the globe.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026
He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spikes
Noun
-
The professional darts player and reigning Dutch champion, 29, shared an emotional goodbye message to her sport after the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) ruled that transgender women will not be able to compete in women's competitions on Thursday, April 9.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Two seem to be solid hits (Upton Stout and Dominick Puni), the jury is still out on two others (Nick Martin and Ji’Ayir Brown), while the remaining seven seem like Lynch and Shanahan were throwing darts blindfolded.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But what started as modest increases turned into double digit jumps.—
Wire TBD,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But what started as modest increases turned into double digit jumps.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary.—
Therie Hendrey-Seabrook,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But this person who was a friend, who owes her career to me, just stabs me in the back.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately, certain types of mushrooms are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light during or after harvesting, which stimulates vitamin D production in the mushrooms.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Beta-glucan also stimulates the release of GLP-1 from the gut, sending hormonal signals of fullness to the brain.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That means fresh and tender asparagus spears, crunchy snap pea pods, and spicy radishes are in season.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the Bindjareb attempted to escape, while others grabbed their spears, and at least five Bindjareb individuals were killed in the resulting skirmish.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Detroit Lions were not very aggressive in NFL free agency, choosing to save salary cap space to sign some key players to long-term extensions.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In the past year, IMG has announced the extensions of its partnerships with sports groups including CONMEBOL, Euroleague Basketball, MLS, Saudi Pro League and the USTA.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Joel, a 19‑year veteran, begins pursuing after another officer deploys a spike strip and punctures the Challenger's tires.—
Kelsy Mittauer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The narrower design, combined with the several sharp teeth, effectively punctures through tough pepper skin and hard fruits to cut out the core and remove seeds in a matter of seconds.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Warhorses charge, lances down, crashing through the tilts as lances break on shields and men topple from their steeds.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Spikes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spikes. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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