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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of spying
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
The revelations included instances of the CIA’s violating its charter with assassinations, coups, dirty tricks, human drug experimentation, and domestic spying, especially on opponents of Nixon’s war in Southeast Asia.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2020
Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Pentagon has deployed unmanned aircraft for spying missions over the Black Sea, with one drone downed by a Russian fighter jet in March 2023.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 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
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
The revelations included instances of the CIA’s violating its charter with assassinations, coups, dirty tricks, human drug experimentation, and domestic spying, especially on opponents of Nixon’s war in Southeast Asia.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2020
Verb
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
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Pentagon has deployed unmanned aircraft for spying missions over the Black Sea, with one drone downed by a Russian fighter jet in March 2023.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 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
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Six Chinese nationals were recently detained in Subic Bay on espionage charges, further heightening mistrust.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
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The duo plays Emily and Matt, a married pair of ex-CIA spies forced out of retirement and back into the world of espionage after their secret identities are revealed.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Leaders need to practice empathy by noticing when silence lingers in a meeting, when a camera remains off, or when fatigue from time zones takes its toll.—
Matthew C. Meade,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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This was created after noticing that some new hires didn’t show up on their start date due to cold feet, second thoughts, or feeling another offer was safer.—
Roula Amire,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fire will mainly creep and smolder, and spotting potential will be reduced by higher relative humidity.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Colorado potato beetles on your potatoes, a defoliated tomato branch (likely due to tomato hornworms), or some spotting on your zinnias are all easily visible.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nepal’s current bout of political unrest started in early September, when a group of young Nepalis, fed up with seeing politicians’ children posting about their designer handbags and luxury travel while most people struggle to make ends meet, organized a peaceful protest.—
Sugam Pokharel,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Most of all, the United States must create the capacity for advanced recycling that is seeing investments happen mostly overseas.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With so much fashion existing online, there’s something refreshing about trying pieces on in-store after eyeing them first on a little screen.—
Libby Page,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
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Despite modest online traction and a vocal fanbase for his solo work, breaking free from a long-running TV persona — especially one as iconic as Archie Andrews — is a familiar challenge for actors eyeing to seriously break into a new field like music.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Details have yet to come out regarding the specifics of the policy violation.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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The recipient of this information must make its own independent decisions regarding any securities, investment products or other financial products mentioned herein.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From rooftop aquatheaters with massive high-definition screens to sports bars, lounges, and poolside cabanas, the city’s venues are rolling out premium viewing experiences for fans.—
Nasha Smith,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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And occultations themselves depend on the viewer's location on Earth, as the viewing angle shifts with latitude.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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