1
as in stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
scorpions use their stinger-equipped tails to spike their prey
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in stimulating
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 spiking
Lower-income Americans sharply reduced their gas consumption in the month following the Iran war, yet spiking prices still forced them to spend more at the pump, worsening the economy’s economic disparities, new research released Wednesday showed.
—
Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Since the start of the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices have been spiking.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Fuel prices are spiking because of a war Californians didn’t ask for, and gas taxes are hurting working families who can no longer afford to live near their jobs.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
The fund has warned that the poorest countries will be hit hardest, partly because of the spiking prices of fertilizers.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Redemptions from private credit funds have been spiking on fears of potentially bad loans in application software and other sectors, driven by the ascent of artificial intelligence and hurt by a higher-for-longer short-term interest rate regime.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 2 May 2026
Spirit last month acknowledged that spiking fuel prices driven by war in the Middle East might well hamper its business prospects.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
And even as the mainstream media continues to fracture, the global consumption of content is spiking.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
According to Jefferies, at Estée Lauder, Jo Malone has had a strong start to the year, with sales spiking 49 percent in March and Tom Ford steadily growing 26 percent in the same month.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Since the start of the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices have been spiking.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Fuel prices are spiking because of a war Californians didn’t ask for, and gas taxes are hurting working families who can no longer afford to live near their jobs.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
The fund has warned that the poorest countries will be hit hardest, partly because of the spiking prices of fertilizers.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Redemptions from private credit funds have been spiking on fears of potentially bad loans in application software and other sectors, driven by the ascent of artificial intelligence and hurt by a higher-for-longer short-term interest rate regime.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 2 May 2026
Spirit last month acknowledged that spiking fuel prices driven by war in the Middle East might well hamper its business prospects.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
And even as the mainstream media continues to fracture, the global consumption of content is spiking.
—Caitlin White, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
According to Jefferies, at Estée Lauder, Jo Malone has had a strong start to the year, with sales spiking 49 percent in March and Tom Ford steadily growing 26 percent in the same month.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiking
Verb
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The man was later convicted of stabbing his girlfriend and is serving 15 years in prison for the attack.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Preliminary information indicated the stabbing victim may have been mistaken for another person, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Desires run deep on April 28, as Venus in Gemini meets with Pluto in Aquarius, creating one of the most magnetic and intellectually stimulating trines of the season.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
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Key Takeaways Eating a small handful of arugula before meals may gently support digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes, stomach acid, and bile.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Either apply the product to the back of your hand before picking it up with a brush, or simply swipe it directly onto your cheeks, tapping it in with your fingertips.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
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Beers was also aggressive defensively, picking Stewart’s pocket for a steal in the second quarter.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
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But those seemed better suited to people who wanted to win hearts and minds through stirring oratory.—
Eli Durst,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Cover salad; chill until flavors meld, at least 1 hour or up to 3 days, stirring occasionally.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
Verb
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In Famesick, Dunham says Driver would habitually yell on set, once even throwing a chair against the wall next to her and puncturing the wall of his trailer with a fist.—
Anna Zucca,
Vanity Fair,
15 Apr. 2026
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The tactic has become more popular with smugglers as police on the beaches try to thwart crossings by puncturing the rafts that groups of migrants have to inflate and carry to the water.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The president has kept up his criticism of Leo, jabbing the pope in a May 4 interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on the eve of Rubio’s visit.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
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In the 10 months since, Colbert has not held back, regularly jabbing his network, its new owners’ cozy relationship with the president and reports that his show was hemorrhaging $40 million a year.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Verb
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One thing that tacticians noticed in the closing months of the war was how lighter, faster tanks were effective when used as offensive tools, piercing through enemy lines in order to flank enemy formations.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
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When used correctly, that power can be harnessed for good, heightening the citrus fruit’s bright, piercing notes to soaring new heights.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
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At one point, Davies can be seen sticking her head out of the open window and waving to park officials below.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
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For most of her first two seasons, the league treated her like just another player, sticking her on the back of posters and leaving her out of promos.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiking. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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