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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spying
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
But the line between collaborating for lawful national security purposes versus unlawful domestic spying is becoming dangerously blurred or ignored.
—Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Part of the problem is that world governments, which are in the best position to do something about cybersecurity, also exploit software vulnerabilities for spying and other national security purposes.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Arrested on suspicion of spying, they were released from prison in Iran in November.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Four men were arrested in London on Friday on suspicion of spying for Iran, according to the Metropolitan Police.
—Frank Andrews, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Joani Reid, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s governing Labor Party, issued a statement indicating that her husband was among three unnamed individuals British police arrested this week on suspicion of spying for China.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 4 Mar. 2026
Liu hasn't ruled out seeing her life, and experience in an international spying incident, adapted into a movie.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Twenty-five Israelis and foreign residents in Israel were indicted on charges of spying for Iran in 2025, according to Shin Bet's annual report, published in February.
—CBS News, 8 May 2026
The Justice Department is seeking to denaturalize a former diplomat who was caught spying for the Cuban government.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 8 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
John offers to marry Claire to protect her when the British Army wants to arrest her for spying.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Two spying buses passed me and took pictures of my car, resulting in my receiving two citations costing me $100.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
But the line between collaborating for lawful national security purposes versus unlawful domestic spying is becoming dangerously blurred or ignored.
—Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Part of the problem is that world governments, which are in the best position to do something about cybersecurity, also exploit software vulnerabilities for spying and other national security purposes.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Arrested on suspicion of spying, they were released from prison in Iran in November.
—Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Four men were arrested in London on Friday on suspicion of spying for Iran, according to the Metropolitan Police.
—Frank Andrews, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Joani Reid, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s governing Labor Party, issued a statement indicating that her husband was among three unnamed individuals British police arrested this week on suspicion of spying for China.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 4 Mar. 2026
Liu hasn't ruled out seeing her life, and experience in an international spying incident, adapted into a movie.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Republican infighting was on full display as Johnson struggled to cobble together the votes needed to advance a farm bill, extend a critical government spying program, and end the record-long Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Twenty-five Israelis and foreign residents in Israel were indicted on charges of spying for Iran in 2025, according to Shin Bet's annual report, published in February.
—CBS News, 8 May 2026
The Justice Department is seeking to denaturalize a former diplomat who was caught spying for the Cuban government.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 8 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
John offers to marry Claire to protect her when the British Army wants to arrest her for spying.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
Mizan also reported that Iran executed a man on charges of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Two spying buses passed me and took pictures of my car, resulting in my receiving two citations costing me $100.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spying
Noun
-
The Yantar – officially a Russian research ship, but accused of espionage and disruption in NATO waters – sat over the Ursa Major’s wreckage for five days, the source said, before four more explosions were detected, possibly targeting the remains of the ship on the seabed.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
China has routinely refuted interference, espionage, and theft accusations.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
As fans get more sophisticated about visual effects, and AI clips proliferate online, spotting VFX errors have become a bit of a online pastime (and, sometimes, a fake VFX shot turns out to be real after all).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
Buoyed by the technology boom, major indices like the Nasdaq Composite , the Russell 2000 and the S & P 500 have all risen sharply over the past month, but analysts are spotting fragility underneath the top lines.—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Regular practice is key to noticing benefits.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
-
At the same time, your confidence grows and people are noticing.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Hiba imagined seeing snow for the first time and living in a cold state, such as Ohio.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
His absence led to Ben Hutton and Dylan Coghlan seeing elevated minutes, and both handled them well.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
While Spain offers a European setting, many eclipse chasers are eyeing destinations like Tunisia and Egypt for their very long totalities and very high chances of clear skies.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
-
The appointment process could get messy with nearly half of the council eyeing a prospective run.—
Nick Sullivan
May 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
King may be familiar to followers of Massachusetts State Police scandals as his state case came up in the fallout to the revelations regarding disgraced ex-Trooper Michael Proctor.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
-
At this time, authorities have not publicly disclosed any information regarding who could be responsible for dumping the animals.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
According to the complaint, Netflix logs billions of user interactions on its platform, collecting data that allegedly includes viewing habits, entertainment preferences, devices used, household networks, app usage patterns, and other behavioral information.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
11 May 2026
-
The mock-trial format will ask whether microdramas represent a natural shift in viewing habits or a break with traditional media models, with the audience acting as both jury and interested party.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
