SPY Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

spy 1 of 2

noun

Definition of spy

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

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spy

2 of 2

verb

ˈspī

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 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 spy

Noun

Hanke even survived a close call when Yugoslav strongman Slobodan Milosevic spread rumors the economist was a French spy and dispatched a hit squad to assassinate him. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 Bannerman centers on the eponymous Paul Bannerman, a lethal covert operative who convinces a group of the world’s most deadly assassins to quit the spy game for a chance to lead normal lives in the suburbs of Connecticut. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Why does English football view spying as a heinous crime while other countries openly admit to using drones to study upcoming opponents? — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Chenal could stuff the run, spy the quarterback and rush the passer in key situations while also logging snaps in kick return, punt return, punt coverage and field-goal block. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy

Noun

Strategy and comms chief Nick Rathod, a seasoned political operative, served as Deputy Director in the Obama White House and a Special Assistant to the President.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
The complaint alleges that Bowie, who converted to Islam five years ago and became radicalized online, spent a month communicating with an ISIS facilitator who was actually an undercover operative working with the FBI.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of operative

Verb

The technology, used in all Metro Nashville Public Schools, didn’t spot the weapon because the shooter wasn’t close enough to cameras for the system to get an accurate read and activate the alarm, the district said.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Both come down to spotting opportunities where others see problems, building resilience, staying curious, and taking action without being asked to.

— Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of spot

Noun

Yet after initially acknowledging the economic struggle, the government once again accused the protesters of being foreign agents before unleashing one of the worst crackdowns in the Islamic Republic’s history.

— Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Emmie – as a skit featuring Epic employees dressed as colorful AI agents illustrated – is designed to answer common questions more reliably than general-use chatbots.

— Michael L. Millenson, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of agent

Noun

Federal prosecutors accused Heidi Beirich, an expert on political extremism and a former director of the nonprofit’s intelligence project, of overseeing payments to informants working undercover in a variety of hate groups.

— Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2026
Goode and the Safdies began filming interviews with Tabraue and Crutchfield in 2014, with Josh sporting spy-camera glasses to try to capture Tabraue undercover, but the footage looked like crap.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of undercover

Verb

Brandon Inniss said fans will notice the different ways Ohio State is getting its receivers the ball in space.

— Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
The clip then shows Bader walking down the sidewalk in the shoes as onlookers can’t help but notice the bizarre footwear.

— Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of notice

Noun

The menu blends regional traditions with contemporary presentation, highlighting handmade tortillas, seafood, moles, open-fire cooking and seasonal ingredients.

— Evan Moore August 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
The special one recent day was chicken in mole sauce for about $11, another good deal.

— Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of mole

Verb

Institutional investors still seem to see growth opportunities, even if some sovereign wealth funds show signs of potential pullbacks.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The expansion will see Amazon Web Services (AWS) deploy 2 million additional Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of see

Browse Nearby Words

sputum

spy

spying

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Style

“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of spy

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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