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
Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Entropy spikes during conscious volition may mark this very unraveling of possibility in the brain.
—Conor Feehly, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
In this scenario, stripped of high-paying salaries, prime borrowers default and tank the $13 trillion residential mortgage market, unemployment spikes above 10%, the stock market corrects down 38%, and the economy collapses into a deflationary spiral.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
That dynamic played out clearly during the 2008 financial crisis, the pandemic market dips and again during the recent volatility spikes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
The latter is processed quickly and spikes blood sugar.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Two to four-foot-tall flower spikes open with pea-like blooms in white, yellow, blue, or purple.
—Angela England, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Planning Your Visit As one of Florida’s most popular spring parks, visitation spikes on weekends, holidays, and throughout the summer months.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
Choosing water or low-caffeine drinks in the morning may prevent short-term blood pressure spikes.
—Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 20 Feb. 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
Gas prices and airfare are increasing as the cost of oil spikes more than a week into war with Iran.
—Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Entropy spikes during conscious volition may mark this very unraveling of possibility in the brain.
—Conor Feehly, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
In this scenario, stripped of high-paying salaries, prime borrowers default and tank the $13 trillion residential mortgage market, unemployment spikes above 10%, the stock market corrects down 38%, and the economy collapses into a deflationary spiral.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
That dynamic played out clearly during the 2008 financial crisis, the pandemic market dips and again during the recent volatility spikes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
The latter is processed quickly and spikes blood sugar.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Two to four-foot-tall flower spikes open with pea-like blooms in white, yellow, blue, or purple.
—Angela England, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Planning Your Visit As one of Florida’s most popular spring parks, visitation spikes on weekends, holidays, and throughout the summer months.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2026
Choosing water or low-caffeine drinks in the morning may prevent short-term blood pressure spikes.
—Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spikes
Noun
-
Often described as somewhere between darts and bowling, the venues typically hosted bachelor parties, team-building events and recreational leagues.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
To pass time during inclement weather or an evening in, The Barn plays hosts to billiards, darts, and other classic bar games.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
A number of consumer products saw sharp price jumps last month.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Dogs taking part in the Ruffin Relays are led on a leash by their owner on a journey through a 10-station course which includes two tunnels, a pair of jumps and more.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Bautista stabs and shoots his assailants in an operatic eruption of violence that is done in a single, extended shot.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Ginger stimulates the digestive tract, promoting healthy digestion and facilitating the removal of food and gas from the body.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
13 Mar. 2026
-
During dry years, no wildflowers appear above ground, but the seeds remain dormant until rain stimulates germination.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the calendar has turned, and the spears now point inward.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Other sufferers, however, who submitted entries to the 1983 Migraine Art Competition, depicted their pain in drawings and paintings of nails, needles, axes, ice picks, arrows, bolts, jaws, chisels, shivs, guns, red-hot spears, sledgehammers, devils, and long pins.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Taxpayers in Florida can file extensions online for free, O’Connor says.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Even the rolling carts served as extensions of people’s accessories.—
Jennelle Fong
Contributing Photographer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 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 Mar. 2026.
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