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
Inflation crept up but wasn’t spiking.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Researchers are closing this gap, but for now, spiking AI often slightly lags behind standard AI in raw accuracy.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
And with fewer deposit-payers getting their dimes back, the unclaimed redemption money is spiking.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Available inventory and the amount of housing still under construction play a huge role in where home prices are spiking nationwide.
—Alix Langone, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Florida Isn't Alone Even the internet points to Key lime pie, with searches for the recipe spiking during that time frame.
—Nila Do Simon, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
Or prioritize the coffee notes by spiking an iced latte with a splash of Kahlunkin—after hours, of course.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
His pregame playlists purposefully lowered his blood pressure instead of spiking his adrenaline.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Ultimately, what’s spiking interest in these communities is convenience.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Researchers are closing this gap, but for now, spiking AI often slightly lags behind standard AI in raw accuracy.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
And with fewer deposit-payers getting their dimes back, the unclaimed redemption money is spiking.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Available inventory and the amount of housing still under construction play a huge role in where home prices are spiking nationwide.
—Alix Langone, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Florida Isn't Alone Even the internet points to Key lime pie, with searches for the recipe spiking during that time frame.
—Nila Do Simon, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
Or prioritize the coffee notes by spiking an iced latte with a splash of Kahlunkin—after hours, of course.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
His pregame playlists purposefully lowered his blood pressure instead of spiking his adrenaline.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Ultimately, what’s spiking interest in these communities is convenience.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiking
Verb
-
The trail through this passage is narrow and lined with signature desert plants — which is to say my path became a gauntlet of tiny, stabbing swords.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Jared Luecke, 33, is facing murder and tampering with evidence charges and is accused of repeatedly stabbing John Luecke with a knife and hitting him with a crowbar, according to court records.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Aside from giving each strain their unique smell, terpenes also contribute to effects where some may be sedating (linalool, terpinene, myrcene), stimulating (limonene, pinene) and have medicinal benefits (caryophyllene, beta caryophyllene).—
Carly Fisher,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Save more serious, heavier pruning for shaping and stimulating new growth for late winter or spring.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump did get the jitters, but responded, as The Atlantic’s Jonathan Chait noted, not by caving on health care but by ranting about the filibuster, ultimately picking a different way of doubling down.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Kellenberger pivoted, hiking north until the winter weather hit, and picking back up in March 2025.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Like something stirring within a stone, or the stone itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The feature opens as Magda’s son returns from the front to this world without men, with his arrival stirring a growing unease among the group.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Pinjar thus starts out with Hamida’s disgust, puncturing notions of maternal affection revered in mainstream South Asian (and other) narratives.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In a separate case in February, five Israeli reservists were charged over the beating and stabbing of a detainee, accused in an indictment of breaking the man’s ribs, puncturing his lung and tearing his rectum.—
Daniele Hamamdjian,
NBC news,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To their right, a woman raised her hand, jabbing her index finger forward and shouting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Fans have speculated that Ice and Cardi have been jabbing at one another.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ask piercing questions that shift the way the community thinks as Mercury aligns with Pluto.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
During The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion, Eva turned heads with her glowing makeup, perfectly sculpted cheekbones, and piercing eyes.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As the humpback plunges back below the surface the remoras, also known as sucker fish, return to the whale, sticking their landings with the timing and precision of Olympic gymnasts.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Braid my hair at the top, sticking straight up.—
Stephanie Mansfield,
Vogue,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiking. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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