as in operative
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
the government spy risked his life every day in the fight against global terrorism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to spot
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
Examples 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 spy
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Across TikTok, users are jokingly addressing love letters, tributes, and thank yous to fictional Chinese spies.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025
Zeena Saifi, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
While on the grounds, my family and I spied cheetahs and elephants — forcing my sons to forget all about their iPads.
—Emily Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spy 
Noun
In addition to fighter aircraft, the U.S. Air Force routinely deployed spy planes from the U.S. mainland to Kadena, including the RC-135S reconnaissance aircraft, also known as Cobra Ball, which is capable of collecting data on ballistic missiles fired by North Korea.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Across TikTok, users are jokingly addressing love letters, tributes, and thank yous to fictional Chinese spies.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
Iran has also arrested several of its citizens over the last year, whom the regime and the Revolutionary Guard Corps accuse of spying for Israel or collaborating with its foreign intelligence agency Mossad, according to Iranian state media.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
While on the grounds, my family and I spied cheetahs and elephants — forcing my sons to forget all about their iPads.
—Emily Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
-
Many of those operatives were never really on board with the strategy of ditching governance in Gaza and turning to guerrilla combat.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2025
-
That would mark a significant comeback, 15 years after many of the C.I.A.’s operatives in China were caught, and some executed.—
Julian E. Barnes,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Last summer, her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and Kansas City Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes were spotted at one of Swift's celebrated pool parties, joined by A-list friends like Gigi Hadid, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Bradley Cooper.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
-
This summer, British model Lila Moss was spotted atop one of the neon green steeds; while award-winning fashion designer, Stella McCartney, was seen going for an evening ride around Notting Hill with Kate Hudson in 2023.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Republican lawmakers in Connecticut are pushing to roll back a state law that limits when law enforcement and correctional officers can cooperate with federal immigration agents.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Even though Joel Wolfe, Sasaki's agent, has been trying to dispel that notion since at least November, he was asked to address it again Wednesday at Sasaki's introductory press conference in Los Angeles.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
But some investors have been eyeing it, including Trump's former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt.—
MARK SHERMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Congressional Republicans are eyeing dozens of Biden administration regulations to roll back once President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term on Monday.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The Confidential Rental and Leasing Office, created under former Commissioner Ray Kelly, has an important core purpose: to give investigators, including undercovers, a way to procure and use a range of vehicles that don’t automatically give them away, which standard unmarked cop cars tend to do.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Starring Sean Penn, it was based on a book Crowe wrote after spending a year undercover as a student at Clairemont High School in San Diego.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
11 July 2024
Verb
-
Allergies acting up: Homeowners who are sensitive to dust, pollen, or animal hair may notice their allergies acting up before anything else.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Andy Murray Retired Tennis star Andy Murray has also claimed to have noticed an uptick of posts from Musk appearing on his X feed.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
In Odd One Out, a group of similar people tries to root out a mole, thereby examining individual stereotypes (for example, a group of straight guys tries to identify the secretly gay one).—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Starters include dishes like burrata and mole, tuna tostadas or raw bar items, including salmon tiradito, shrimp carpaccio and green ceviche with aguachile.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
New Orleans is also seeing its all-time snowiest day based on modern records taken at their current location.—
Andrew Freedman,
Axios,
22 Jan. 2025
-
The states that saw the most substantial mortgage costs were as follows: Hawaii, California, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Massachusetts and Arizona.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near spy
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share