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
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Four men were arrested in London on Friday on suspicion of spying for Iran, according to the Metropolitan Police.
—Frank Andrews, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Joani Reid, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s governing Labor Party, issued a statement indicating that her husband was among three unnamed individuals British police arrested this week on suspicion of spying for China.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 4 Mar. 2026
Liu hasn't ruled out seeing her life, and experience in an international spying incident, adapted into a movie.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Alysa and Arthur Liu have been targets of Beijing harassment and spying, the father has said.
—Griffin Eckstein, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
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 arms sale has 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
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Two spying buses passed me and took pictures of my car, resulting in my receiving two citations costing me $100.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
But there is little doubt, officials and experts say, that spying efforts are intensifying as the world’s two dominant superpowers, the United States and China, battle for superiority across economic, technological, military and ideological fronts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Arthur and Alysa were targeted at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in a spying operation that the US Justice Department alleges was ordered by the Chinese government.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 23 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
There are widespread concerns, too, about the potential for China to use its green hardware for spying, or sabotage.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Four men were arrested in London on Friday on suspicion of spying for Iran, according to the Metropolitan Police.
—Frank Andrews, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Joani Reid, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s governing Labor Party, issued a statement indicating that her husband was among three unnamed individuals British police arrested this week on suspicion of spying for China.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 4 Mar. 2026
Liu hasn't ruled out seeing her life, and experience in an international spying incident, adapted into a movie.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Alysa and Arthur Liu have been targets of Beijing harassment and spying, the father has said.
—Griffin Eckstein, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
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 arms sale has 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
John offers to marry Claire to protect her when the British Army wants to arrest her for spying.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Two spying buses passed me and took pictures of my car, resulting in my receiving two citations costing me $100.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
But there is little doubt, officials and experts say, that spying efforts are intensifying as the world’s two dominant superpowers, the United States and China, battle for superiority across economic, technological, military and ideological fronts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
Arthur and Alysa were targeted at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in a spying operation that the US Justice Department alleges was ordered by the Chinese government.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 23 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spying
Noun
-
The Russian military is once again hacking home and small office routers in widespread operations that send unwitting users to sites that harvest passwords and credential tokens for use in espionage campaigns, researchers said Tuesday.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026
-
After more than three years imprisoned in Iran on espionage charges, French teachers Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris returned to France on Wednesday.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An allergist shared tips on spotting the difference and reducing exposure during peak pollen weeks.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
These color changes can help scientists understand the composition of minerals on the surface, according to NASA, because while there is plenty of satellite imagery of the moon, the human eye is better at spotting the changes of color.—
Brendan Byrne,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Women suffering through the hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep problems that can come with menopause — all while looking in the mirror and noticing signs of aging — are being bombarded with products.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
But people in the capital began noticing.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That means residents are seeing larger chunks of their paychecks going to utilities compared to people in other places.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Sponsors began seeing themselves out on Monday, and the entire festival was quickly canceled after news of Ye’s ban broke on Tuesday.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Business leaders look everywhere for inspiration, from eyeing their peers’ successes to tapping industry vets for insight.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
News that the fast food chain has been eyeing small towns for the next openings has mobilized local residents to fight back.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The helpful trine between the Moon in your private 12th house and Jupiter in your cautious 8th house offers astrological support regarding tender topics.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Prior to Saturday’s apology, Auriemma had expressed frustration over the officiating, specifically regarding a play where Sarah Strong’s jersey was ripped.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Members of Hansen's family — his wife, Catherine, and their son, Devon — are in the viewing gallery at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Nothing compares to cherry blossom season in Japan, where entire days are spent picnicking under the blooms (there's even a word for flower viewing, hanami).—
Adele Chapin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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