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

Italy and Poland cracked down on alleged spying by Russia, moves that come as analysts warned that the Kremlin may be looking to expand its use of hybrid warfare as its battlefield efforts in Ukraine stall. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 July 2026

Julius seems to have approached his spying with a sprightly, if naive, enthusiasm. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

As a result, stories revealing the NSA’s mass spying tactics were published in The Guardian, The Washington Post and other outlets around the world. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026

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

Verb

Beijing — An American scientist who has studied underground nuclear tests has been detained in China for more than 18 months on spying charges, according to his supporters and a US lawmaker. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Their parents, Ethel and Julius, have been convicted of spying for the Soviet Union and sentenced to death. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

Although there is no suspicion of spying in this specific case, there is a long history of espionage in international soccer. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 4 July 2026

This is not the first time an American has been accused of spying for Iran. — Sophia Mandt, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026

In 2024, the Canadian women’s national team was accused of using a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session in the days leading up to its opening match at the Paris Olympics, triggering a spying scandal that led to sanctions against Canada. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

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