as in espionage
the secret gathering of information on others
traditionally, anyone caught engaging in spying during wartime was shot or hanged
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in spotting
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 spying
Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Relations have deteriorated over allegations of Chinese spying in Britain, China’s support for Russia in Moscow’s war on Ukraine and the crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong, the former British colony that was returned to China in 1997.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning about a growing cyber threat that turns everyday QR codes into spying tools.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
London - Despite fears of Chinese spying and hacking, the British government gave the go-ahead Tuesday for China to build a massive new embassy in the heart of London.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Kovrig and Spavor, who were accused of spying, spent almost three years in Chinese detention before being released in 2021, hours after Meng made a deal with the Justice Department.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
He is best known for leading Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency — tasked with spying for the government — for four years until 2017, stepping down after he was suspended and later sacked by Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Having unwittingly helped the powers that be further their flying-monkey spying program, Elphaba — powerful, misunderstood, knows how to rock a pointy hat — has stolen the spell book known as the Grimmerie and declared war on the con artist known as Wizard.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
The sale has also raised intelligence concerns that China could gather information about the plane's technology through spying or its military ties with Saudi Arabia.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The 2007 spying scandal cost the team a first-round pick and $250,000, while Belichick was fined $500,000.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
China retaliated by arresting two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on spying charges.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The soaring golden orbs may have fooled my eager spying eyes a few times.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Russian personnel with links to the country’s military and security services have engaged in spying in European waters while working covertly on ships carrying Russian oil, Western and Ukrainian intelligence sources exclusively told CNN.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
And don’t forget spying whale spouts from the coastal cliffs, sans guardrails!
—Crai S Bower, Outside, 18 Dec. 2025
Busby says since spying the rare deer for the first time, and being left confused and charmed by the animal's unique coat, the piebald deer has appeared around his home several more times.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
During Pollard’s detention, Huckabee was among several pro-Israeli politicians who advocated for his release, arguing that the sentence was too severe for someone who had been spying for an ally.
—Paul Goldman, NBC news, 21 Nov. 2025
Noun
Turkey arrests 6 suspected of spying ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish authorities have arrested six people, including an Iranian national, on suspicion of spying for Iran, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Relations have deteriorated over allegations of Chinese spying in Britain, China’s support for Russia in Moscow’s war on Ukraine and the crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong, the former British colony that was returned to China in 1997.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning about a growing cyber threat that turns everyday QR codes into spying tools.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
London - Despite fears of Chinese spying and hacking, the British government gave the go-ahead Tuesday for China to build a massive new embassy in the heart of London.
—Ramy Inocencio, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Kovrig and Spavor, who were accused of spying, spent almost three years in Chinese detention before being released in 2021, hours after Meng made a deal with the Justice Department.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
He is best known for leading Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency — tasked with spying for the government — for four years until 2017, stepping down after he was suspended and later sacked by Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Having unwittingly helped the powers that be further their flying-monkey spying program, Elphaba — powerful, misunderstood, knows how to rock a pointy hat — has stolen the spell book known as the Grimmerie and declared war on the con artist known as Wizard.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
The sale has also raised intelligence concerns that China could gather information about the plane's technology through spying or its military ties with Saudi Arabia.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Verb
The spying operation was unusually vast and allowed the hackers to hoover up sensitive information in apparent coordination with geopolitical events, such as diplomatic missions, trade negotiations, political unrest and military actions, according to the report.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
The 2007 spying scandal cost the team a first-round pick and $250,000, while Belichick was fined $500,000.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
China retaliated by arresting two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on spying charges.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
The soaring golden orbs may have fooled my eager spying eyes a few times.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Russian personnel with links to the country’s military and security services have engaged in spying in European waters while working covertly on ships carrying Russian oil, Western and Ukrainian intelligence sources exclusively told CNN.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025
And don’t forget spying whale spouts from the coastal cliffs, sans guardrails!
—Crai S Bower, Outside, 18 Dec. 2025
Busby says since spying the rare deer for the first time, and being left confused and charmed by the animal's unique coat, the piebald deer has appeared around his home several more times.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 3 Dec. 2025
During Pollard’s detention, Huckabee was among several pro-Israeli politicians who advocated for his release, arguing that the sentence was too severe for someone who had been spying for an ally.
—Paul Goldman, NBC news, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spying
Noun
-
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have in recent years detained foreign and dual nationals, typically on espionage or national security charges.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Hogan and his men secretly functioned as an espionage and sabotage operation, successfully manipulating the inept Germans over the course of 168 episodes.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Lacking distinct features and used in the electrode at less than five percent by weight, the component plays an important role in holding the electrodes together, and spotting it can help improve its performance, according to a press release.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
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Locals say more than 30,000 green vervet monkeys live on the island, with early morning and late afternoon the best time for monkey spotting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Upon noticing a doorbell camera, the subject calmly seeks foliage from Guthrie’s porch area to try and obscure the lens.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
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Video footage shows the person approaching the front door, noticing the camera and trying to cover the lens with their hand.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Around back-to-school time every August, health providers in Dallas are used to seeing lines of patients out the door to get routine immunizations, Huang said, but not this year.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Daughter #1 will not communicate with #2 and won’t even acknowledge her new baby and even seeing a photo of the baby can set her off.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Building a car factory the US could take several years, but leading experts agree that most Chinese carmakers are already eyeing the US market.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Tan is also eyeing other high-growth markets in Asia, like Vietnam and Greater China.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This greatly improved the meetings that both boards have regarding our budget discussions and has lead to a better understanding between the two bodies.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
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The White House and Vance’s office have discouraged speculation regarding why Vance did not go to Munich.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The film will therefore be available for viewing in several formats, with some showings shifting between aspect ratios depending on the emotion and intensity of a scene in select theaters – another first.—
Quincy Bowie,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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With the exception for ADA viewing zones, chairs are not allowed in Platinum viewing areas.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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