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 noticing
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
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Recent Examples of spying
Dana Karni, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Relying on other countries leaves Japan vulnerable to spying and sabotage, and China has laid tens of thousands of miles of cable around the world in the last decade.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Smart devices such as security cameras, thermostats and speakers can be taken over and used for spying or as part of larger cyberattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Privacy, inseparable from dignity in Islamic ethics, surfaces as a second red line; the Qurʾānic injunction against spying frames debates over data harvesting, data sharing, high-tech surveillance, etc.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Weil is currently adapting for United Artists and Conclave director Edward Berger the film about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal‘s foreign correspondent who was thrown into a Russian prison for a year on bogus spying charges.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2025
President Jimmy Carter selected Webster, a Republican, for a 10-year term as FBI chief as the bureau sought to improve an image tarnished by revelations of domestic spying, internal corruption and other abuses of power.
—Douglass K. Daniel, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Two American citizens remain detained in Iran on suspicion of spying for Israel, state media said, although efforts are ongoing—externally and internally—to secure their release.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
In addition to risking the franchise with spying activities, why would Nvidia want to bring harm to China in the first place?
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, Iranian state media reported, after the rights group Amnesty International said the man, Babak Shahbazi, had been sentenced to death in an unfair trial marred by allegations of torture.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In a December 2023 Slate editorial, security researcher Bruce Schneier warned that AI models could enable unprecedented mass spying by automating the analysis and summarization of vast conversation datasets.
—Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson struggled to balance spying the mobile USF signal caller with upholding UF’s zone coverage on crossing routes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying attracted international condemnation.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
After spying the lipstick backstage at a Diotima show, senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden was instantly intrigued—even though mattes aren’t typically her cup of tea.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
Israeli authorities have arrested an American-Israeli dual citizen on suspicion of spying for Iran, accusing him of sharing information on public figures and sending videos and pictures of locations across the country to his handlers.
—Dana Karni, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Relying on other countries leaves Japan vulnerable to spying and sabotage, and China has laid tens of thousands of miles of cable around the world in the last decade.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Smart devices such as security cameras, thermostats and speakers can be taken over and used for spying or as part of larger cyberattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Privacy, inseparable from dignity in Islamic ethics, surfaces as a second red line; the Qurʾānic injunction against spying frames debates over data harvesting, data sharing, high-tech surveillance, etc.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Weil is currently adapting for United Artists and Conclave director Edward Berger the film about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal‘s foreign correspondent who was thrown into a Russian prison for a year on bogus spying charges.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2025
President Jimmy Carter selected Webster, a Republican, for a 10-year term as FBI chief as the bureau sought to improve an image tarnished by revelations of domestic spying, internal corruption and other abuses of power.
—Douglass K. Daniel, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Two American citizens remain detained in Iran on suspicion of spying for Israel, state media said, although efforts are ongoing—externally and internally—to secure their release.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
In addition to risking the franchise with spying activities, why would Nvidia want to bring harm to China in the first place?
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Depending on your age and foreign language ability, fulfilling your James Bond spy fantasies may not be very realistic—but spying for the British government just got more accessible.
—PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, Iranian state media reported, after the rights group Amnesty International said the man, Babak Shahbazi, had been sentenced to death in an unfair trial marred by allegations of torture.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In a December 2023 Slate editorial, security researcher Bruce Schneier warned that AI models could enable unprecedented mass spying by automating the analysis and summarization of vast conversation datasets.
—Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson struggled to balance spying the mobile USF signal caller with upholding UF’s zone coverage on crossing routes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying attracted international condemnation.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
After spying the lipstick backstage at a Diotima show, senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden was instantly intrigued—even though mattes aren’t typically her cup of tea.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spying
Noun
-
What To Know Schleswig-Holstein's interior minster, Sabine Sütterlin-Waack, confirmed that drones were seen flying above the coastal state just south of Denmark overnight into Friday, September 26, and that the incident is under investigation for potential sabotage or espionage.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Paramount+ has confirmed a Season 3 renewal for Taylor Sheridan’s espionage thriller Lioness, starring and executive produced by Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The dangers of not having a name After Hugh-Jones published his 1955 paper, researchers around the globe started noticing similar cases that didn't fit Type 1 or Type 2.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Anderson says, suddenly noticing the red light on my recorder.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Health inspectors closed the Southeast Asian restaurant after spotting several live adult and juvenile German cockroaches in areas including under sinks.—
Sarah Linn,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
With a little awareness and the right tools, spotting and avoiding these scams becomes much easier.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Several workers have also described seeing a few 20-something, red haired men with a mischievous vibe.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The girl also reported seeing inappropriate images on the screensaver of an iPad at Berrelez’s home.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sources say Bizzarri is eyeing additional investments in fashion.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Wole, eying Sylvester in the rearview, asked about his plans for college, about the high-school basketball team.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
During the birthday celebrations for the Grand Queen Dowager Inju (Seo Yi-sook), Lee Heon’s paternal grandmother, Jesan orchestrates the arrival of evidence regarding the truth behind Heon’s mother’s death.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Selena Gomez's mother Mandy Teefey is ready to set the record straight regarding her daughter's recent wedding to producer Benny Blanco.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And even as people's viewing habits aren't the same as in 2000, there's still so much interest in these shows online.—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Ross is also taller, giving officers more viewing coverage above crowds than Walking Horses, which can be as short as 14 hands, or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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