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
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Recent Examples of spying
ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Congress seemed likely to renew the FISA provision at the last minute despite bipartisan concerns about the scope of government spying.
—Jason Willick, Washington Post, 6 June 2026
The Five Eyes, which has its roots in US-UK cooperation during World War II, is one of the world’s most comprehensive spying alliances.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Another possible complication is if any more evidence emerges of further spying on teams who missed out on automatic promotion or qualification for the play-offs.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 21 May 2026
His lawyer, John Carman, said federal prosecutors dressed up a mundane paperwork case with specious suggestions that Lu was involved in spying and intelligence gathering.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Concerns have been raised over such instances of alleged spying on Jewish communities, prompting some to call on the government to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 3 May 2026
But the company continues to face accusations that its products pose a spying threat that China could leverage.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Following the House vote, congressional Republicans blamed Democrats for putting a key spying tool in jeopardy, noting the high-level security events happening around the country in the coming weeks such as July 4 celebrations and World Cup matches.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Congress is struggling to meet a fast-approaching deadline to extend a key government spying law, potentially jeopardizing national security as the Iran war drags on.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 June 2026
But Southampton’s expulsion following the spying scandal has handed Middlesbrough an extraordinary reprieve — and the betting market has reacted in their favour.
—Dean Jones, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The incident comes as relations between the two countries remain at a historic low over the Ukraine war and longstanding spying allegations.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
In November, a Sanaa court convicted 17 people of spying for foreign governments and sentenced them to death.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Everything about this, particularly the spying part, seems positivily Hitchcockian.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
They are believed to be the first people to have been convicted of spying for China in Britain, local media reported.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
Noun
In March, two Democrats and two Republicans opposed to the law’s broad spying authority introduced a bill to limit the government’s ability to obtain Americans’ private communications without a warrant.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Congress seemed likely to renew the FISA provision at the last minute despite bipartisan concerns about the scope of government spying.
—Jason Willick, Washington Post, 6 June 2026
The Five Eyes, which has its roots in US-UK cooperation during World War II, is one of the world’s most comprehensive spying alliances.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
Another possible complication is if any more evidence emerges of further spying on teams who missed out on automatic promotion or qualification for the play-offs.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 21 May 2026
His lawyer, John Carman, said federal prosecutors dressed up a mundane paperwork case with specious suggestions that Lu was involved in spying and intelligence gathering.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Concerns have been raised over such instances of alleged spying on Jewish communities, prompting some to call on the government to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.
—Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 3 May 2026
But the company continues to face accusations that its products pose a spying threat that China could leverage.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
But that doesn’t mean the government’s spying powers will disappear.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Following the House vote, congressional Republicans blamed Democrats for putting a key spying tool in jeopardy, noting the high-level security events happening around the country in the coming weeks such as July 4 celebrations and World Cup matches.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Congress is struggling to meet a fast-approaching deadline to extend a key government spying law, potentially jeopardizing national security as the Iran war drags on.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 June 2026
But Southampton’s expulsion following the spying scandal has handed Middlesbrough an extraordinary reprieve — and the betting market has reacted in their favour.
—Dean Jones, New York Times, 23 May 2026
The incident comes as relations between the two countries remain at a historic low over the Ukraine war and longstanding spying allegations.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
In November, a Sanaa court convicted 17 people of spying for foreign governments and sentenced them to death.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Everything about this, particularly the spying part, seems positivily Hitchcockian.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
They are believed to be the first people to have been convicted of spying for China in Britain, local media reported.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spying
Noun
-
Both Sato and Thompson suspect that the espionage law has had a chilling effect on their work.—
Laura Secor,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
-
Peacock is also switching tactics from past channels’ campaigns for espionage series.—
Whitney Friedlander,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The sector is increasingly turning to the defense industry, spotting an opportunity to collaborate and capitalize upon the continent's rise in military spending.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
-
The waters here are considered some of the best for sailing and tarpon fishing, and there's a good chance of spotting dolphins and sea turtles.—
Ana Pelayo Connery,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Now, more people are noticing and appreciating it.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
13 June 2026
-
Cycle syncing is most useful as a framework for noticing your own patterns rather than a strict rulebook.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Another patient, David Nurieli, described seeing elderly individuals forced to walk or be carried up three flights of stairs when the elevator fails.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Those concerns were amplified by Marsch only seeing his players every few months before the World Cup.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
With Ossoff the sole Democrat seeking reelection in a state the president won in 2024, Republicans have been eyeing a pickup opportunity in Georgia.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
My mom still endures the 100-degree temperatures of Palm Springs and is eyeing these as a lightweight option to wear with tanks and sandals this summer.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The Medline warehouse has faced serious citations regarding unsafe vehicle travel behavior; hazardous aisles, ladders, or stairways; and a lack of sufficient foot protection for employees exposed to foot injuries.—
Lyanne Wang,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
-
And there are concerns regarding possible negative effects of angiogenesis associated with peptides.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Outdoor space is ample on Decks 7 and 8, with viewing platforms in front of the bridge and at the stern of the ship on Deck 6.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
The square offered two viewing areas, with one screen showing the Fox broadcast in English and another area showing the Telemundo broadcast in Spanish.—
Cal Phillips
June 14,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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