Synonyms of spying

spying 1 of 2

noun

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

• espionage
• counterintelligence
• counterespionage
• surveillance
• wiretapping
• reconnaissance
• intelligence
• eavesdropping
• bugging
• observation
• cloak-and-dagger
• tradecraft
• lowdown
• dope
• goods

spying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of spy

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

• spotting
• noticing
• seeing
• eyeing
• regarding
• viewing
• watching
• observing
• remarking
• looking (at)
• espying
• perceiving
• witnessing
• sighting
• catching
• beholding
• noting
• discerning
• distinguishing
• descrying
• getting a load of
• identifying
• scanning
• surveying
• setting eyes on
• laying eyes on
• considering
• studying
• inspecting
• picking out
• scrutinizing
• attending (to)
• examining
• marking
• making out
• heeding
• glimpsing
• peering (at)
• glancing (at)
• picking up
• minding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• neglecting
• disregarding
• passing over
• missing
• overlooking
• overpassing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spying

Noun

Moreover, its lead in many technologies meant that the United States had much more to lose than to gain by legitimizing commercial spying. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026

That show tackled Bitcoin, viral videos, NSA spying, and the goofy-ass names of 2010s tech startups without being hacky or hammy. — Meredith Haggerty, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026

There have been previous spying scandals at Germany's foreign intelligence agency. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Harbaugh countered that the only allegation the government has made of spying dated back to September 2025, and that his client's last contact with her Chinese government handlers, according to the complaint, was in October 2025. — Josh Boswell, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Some requests were for DeepSeek’s technology, a finding that bolsters assertions from Congress that the company is in bed with the CCP’s military and spying apparatus. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026

Twelve years after the Central Intelligence Agency initially rejected its publication, a scathing book skewers a top-secret spying program. — Zach Dorfman, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2026

Critics argued the Patriot Act cleared the path for spying and violations of civil liberties, prompting reforms to the controversial law years later. — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

China’s foreign ministry in June confirmed the ‌arrest of Min Zin, saying he was suspected of spying and of endangering Chinese national security. — Reuters, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

It is understood Kering plans to build on the foundation left by Vaccarello, also spying additional opportunities in jewelry. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Invariably, the goal of this kind of espionage is to help key sectors in the spying country rapidly replicate or surpass American advances. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026

The statement did not reveal who the two men were suspected of spying for. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Realtor accused of spying for China caught at LAX trying to leave US. — FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Soon after spying the hungry bird, the family watched in horror as the kite accidentally dropped the reptile right into their backyard, bringing an abrupt end to tea on the veranda. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

That followed the tumultuous tenure of Jim Harbaugh that included a 2023 national title as well as a spying scandal and NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations. — CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

He was arrested by the police and convicted of spying for a terror plot against the network. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026

The White House instituted the ban citing the threat of foreign entities potentially spying or conducting sabotage through the robots. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026