Synonyms of spy

spy 1 of 2

noun

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

• operative
• agent
• undercover
• mole
• undercover agent
• informer
• secret agent
• spook
• emissary
• asset
• intelligencer
• courier
• sleeper
• counterspy
• spymaster
• double agent
• infiltrator
• stool pigeon
• superspy

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

• spot
• eye
• notice
• see
• regard
• view
• watch
• sight
• observe
• look (at)
• catch
• discern
• witness
• remark
• perceive
• distinguish
• descry
• espy
• note
• set eyes on
• behold
• get a load of
• identify
• lay eyes on
• pick out
• attend (to)
• inspect
• scan
• glimpse
• scrutinize
• make out
• study
• consider
• examine
• survey
• heed
• mark
• pick up
• glance (at)
• peer (at)
• mind

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• pass over
• disregard
• neglect
• miss
• overlook
• overpass

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spy

Noun

Reporting from human intelligence assets – spies or unwitting informers with firsthand or secondhand knowledge – may provide information on internal Iranian assessments. —Joshua Rovner, The Conversation, 2 July 2025

Chard’s statements came shortly after insiders close to the Prince of Wales told The Times U.K. that there won’t be a role for Andrew given his controversial ties to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the late American financier’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025

Verb

Over the fence, folks can spy the cavernous stage and the scaffolding above for the technical crew still in place, and that sparks memories. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025

Some two weeks after Resilience's hard landing, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spied the lander's gravesite from its perch in orbit around the moon. —Brett Tingley, Space.com, 24 June 2025