as in operative
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
the government spy risked his life every day in the fight against global terrorism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to spot
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I spy a motel off in the distance, so let's spend the night there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spy
Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025
After all, every spy traffics in manipulation and deceit.
—Rav Grewal-Kök
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Keir Simmons, NBC news, 16 June 2025
Inevitably, the moment that Margarita spies a hobby horsing class cavorting around a room in the local middle school will likely have a profound effect on the film’s audience.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Noun
And recently, Israeli spies and pilots have managed to cripple Iranian counterstrike capabilities.
—Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025
After all, every spy traffics in manipulation and deceit.
—Rav Grewal-Kök
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Verb
On Monday, the semiofficial Fars news agency said that a man convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency had been executed.
—Keir Simmons, NBC news, 16 June 2025
Inevitably, the moment that Margarita spies a hobby horsing class cavorting around a room in the local middle school will likely have a profound effect on the film’s audience.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
-
According to a 1996 Los Angeles Times piece, an 18th Street operative pitched his plan for taking over Orange County in a back alley in Cudahy, with two dozen associates in tow.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 June 2025
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The Mossad, Israel’s equivalent of the CIA, had personnel in Iran ready for the launch of Operation Rising Lion, something that was revealed in unprecedented fashion when the agency released video of its operatives at work.—
Rachel Wolf , Yonat Friling,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Armed with this information, these companies can spot patterns, identify seasonal trends, make accurate forecasts and scale their business with confidence.—
Aliaksandr Kuushynau,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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This week, the star was spotted in Los Angeles taking her dog—and bob—for a walk in a red Jacquemus dress and black heels.—
Essence,
Essence,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Six crew members and a gate agent at Charlotte Douglas International Airport were taken to the hospital Friday night after inhaling something, according to MEDIC.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
28 June 2025
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In many cases, legacy systems can’t easily accommodate these autonomous agents without substantial reengineering.—
Sol Rashidi,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Others eyeing the results are not so sure, report The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Mychael Schnell.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
24 June 2025
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Now in the final year of his deal, wide receiver Terry McLaurin has eyed a new contract to keep him in Washington.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Michael Fassbender stars as Martian, a CIA spy who’s recalled to London after years of living deep undercover in Ethiopia.—
Manuel Betancourt,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2025
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Want to see what else is up for grabs during Wayfair’s undercover Kelly Clarkson Home sale?—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Empathy means noticing and adjusting expectations without penalizing people for being human. 4.—
Jody Michael,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
The firemen noticed Pilon, but every time one of them tried to get beyond the protection of the trucks, Barbaro fired at them.—
Sally Ventura
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Noun
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And in 2019, my dermatologist discovered a small mole on my leg in the early stages of melanoma.—
Dave Knox,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Telehealth offers a glimmer of a solution, but as everyone who’s tried to show off a concerning mole to a doctor via a smartphone camera knows: Video technology can only get you so far.—
Christopher Null,
Wired News,
19 June 2025
Verb
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And club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is first on the list of those the club would like to see leave before the end of the transfer window.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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Customers deserve to see where their money is going and why, without the complex legal language.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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