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

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

Two of the analysts gave evidence, expressing remorse for their actions but saying they were pushed into going on the spying trips. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Sultanov was first arrested by Cypriot police in June 2025 on spying and terror charges and has been in custody since, Britain's Counter Terror police confirmed to AFP. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 31 July 2026

In the meantime, defense officials, concerned about potential spying, have banned the inexpensive Chinese components that many drone manufacturers use to keep costs low. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026

On the advanced robots, the White House pointed to the potential spying threat since the machines are outfitted with sensors and can be remotely controlled. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 July 2026

However, these technological advances are not widely deployed due in part to concerns from privacy activists, who maintain they necessitate backdoors that could be exploited by governments and nefarious actors to enable wholesale spying. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026

Verb

Meanwhile, Iran’s state TV said a man was executed after being convicted on charges of spying for Israel. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 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

Why does English football view spying as a heinous crime while other countries openly admit to using drones to study upcoming opponents? — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Just across the sea lie North Korea, China and Russia, which all have powerful spying capacities that Japan isn’t fully equipped to fend off. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 July 2026

Turkish, Asian and Chinese brands flooded in at first, spying a once-in-a-generation opportunity to hoover up prime real estate. — Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026