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
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
Those income spikes last year likely triggered more taxes for many people, experts said.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
At the same time, AI chips require steady, uninterrupted power, even as their demand spikes during intensive computation.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
But when silver demand spikes quickly, the marketplace tends to change, too.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
If stress spikes, find a private place to relax and breathe, perhaps adding music, prayer, or meditation to soften your inner weather.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
If the diarrhea or barfing lasts more than two days; there’s blood in the diarrhea or urine; or a fever spikes to over 102 degrees, a visit to a medical professional is recommended.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 16 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
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
Those income spikes last year likely triggered more taxes for many people, experts said.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
At the same time, AI chips require steady, uninterrupted power, even as their demand spikes during intensive computation.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
But when silver demand spikes quickly, the marketplace tends to change, too.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
If stress spikes, find a private place to relax and breathe, perhaps adding music, prayer, or meditation to soften your inner weather.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
If the diarrhea or barfing lasts more than two days; there’s blood in the diarrhea or urine; or a fever spikes to over 102 degrees, a visit to a medical professional is recommended.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spikes
Noun
-
It is known for its darts, live music, and promotion of local artwork, and bills itself as Chicago's top dog-friendly bar.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In fact, the phrase originated in cricket and spread to many sports, including soccer, darts and horse racing.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This is because the region has fewer refineries, so any maintenance or supply issues can lead to larger price jumps, the federal agency said.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The first jumps were smaller, relatively speaking.—
John Lauritsen,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Milo tries to be a hero, trying to use pepper spray on Morgan, but Morgan stabs and kills him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The answer mattered because the hormone, produced by the pituitary gland, stimulates the thyroid to release its own hormones.—
Samantha Bonsack,
STAT,
18 Feb. 2026
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As the emotional Moon stimulates expansive Jupiter, we’ll probably be drawn to a variety of possibilities.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The reason for the closure is that ice chunks, sheets and spears that are falling off the bridge have damaged vehicles in the past.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Peering through the grating of a six-foot fence, Marjoleine and I could see the first brave apple blossoms, red spears of rhubarb, and compost piles, some neat, most unruly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As of earlier this week, the Columbus Blue Jackets and their four pending unrestricted free agents — forwards Charlie Coyle, Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment, and defenseman Erik Gudbranson — had not engaged in serious negotiations regarding contract extensions.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Spin-offs and brand extensions The team is now busy thinking up spin-offs and brand extensions.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
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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
-
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 26 Feb. 2026.
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