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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spikes
Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Charles Onyango-Obbo, semafor.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Early in January, attraction spikes within your social circles or through a connection that feels easy, familiar and exciting all at once.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Although consumers may initially benefit from such a drop in global oil prices, the resulting collapse in American oil production would make future price spikes more likely.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The sun’s clash with the moon spikes financial insecurities.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Dryness is a common issue that spikes during this time of the year, and, of course, hydrating serums and moisturizers will help counteract it.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Fear spikes quickly, and headlines amplify that panic.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Need to know Chinese chipmaker MetaX spikes nearly 700% in debut.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
The yearly figure spikes to nearly 300,000 in 1934, then starts declining in earnest in the 1940s, when the vaccine was introduced.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 17 Dec. 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
Collating evidence of rigging becomes near-impossible when police road spikes and armored cars block every exit.
—Charles Onyango-Obbo, semafor.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Early in January, attraction spikes within your social circles or through a connection that feels easy, familiar and exciting all at once.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Although consumers may initially benefit from such a drop in global oil prices, the resulting collapse in American oil production would make future price spikes more likely.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
The sun’s clash with the moon spikes financial insecurities.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Dryness is a common issue that spikes during this time of the year, and, of course, hydrating serums and moisturizers will help counteract it.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Fear spikes quickly, and headlines amplify that panic.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Need to know Chinese chipmaker MetaX spikes nearly 700% in debut.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
The yearly figure spikes to nearly 300,000 in 1934, then starts declining in earnest in the 1940s, when the vaccine was introduced.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spikes
Noun
-
For centuries, people gathering in bars and pubs have found ways to occupy their time, whether that’s classic games like billiards and darts or more recent inventions like video games and mechanical bulls.—
Fritz Hahn,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Yet when boiled, the sap turned black and could be used as poison on the tips of darts and spears.—
Noah Lederman,
Robb Report,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the biggest jumps came in locales where the large landlords barely participated.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Taking the ice in a shimmering silver leotard, Liu dazzled the crowd and judges with a slew of unbelievable jumps, turns and spins.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The suspect pounces on Ennin while the victim is down and stabs him multiple times before running off.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
After Fiona confesses to killing Willem, a raging Constance stabs Dahlia.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The viral beauty gadget stimulates collagen, boosts circulation, and leaves you with plump, youthful results.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Continuing to seek out mental and social challenges stimulates brain metabolism, neuroplasticity and vascular health, according to Efrati, who also serves as chair of the medical advisory board at Aviv Clinics, which operates in Florida and Tel Aviv.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To say that ranch is popular is an understatement because Americans love the tangy taste on everything from chips to pickle spears to shrimp.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Yiyoguaje sported a spectacular headdress of layered feathers that cascaded down his back, blue and pink, green and yellow, topped by three long macaw feathers standing up like spears.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The involvement of Chinese companies in both projects has also drawn attention, as has Italthai’s and Chinese companies’ involvement in the construction of several expressway extensions in and around Bangkok where several accidents, some fatal, had occurred.—
Jintamas Saksonchai,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Perez told the Herald/Times last week that DeSantis hasn’t returned his calls since the combative session ended after two extensions in June.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 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
-
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
-
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 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
