moles

noun

plural of mole
as in spies
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country for years we have had a mole in the enemy's national intelligence agency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 moles Six moles are served throughout the night, including for dessert. — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 19 May 2026 Their natural reservoir is rodents, such as wild mice, rats and moles. — Daniel Pastula, The Conversation, 7 May 2026 These methods rely on the assumption that strong smells or hazards will force moles out. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 8 May 2026 Expect savory moles, guisados (home-style stews), tamales and tlayudas, a pizza-like dish featuring a large crispy tortilla layered with bean paste, chorizo, avocado, green salsa, cheese and other toppings. — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026 There are a few possibilities for non-gopher holes, including the Norway rat, voles, moles, rabbits, ground squirrels and snakes, which don’t dig their own underground burrows but take over old tunnels and improve upon them. — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 18 May 2026 Food enthusiasts learn the art of Mexican cooking from Oaxaca’s rich moles to Yucatán’s smoky spices, with additional classes on more general fundamentals like laminating pastry dough. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026 Earth’s atmospheric pressure under standard conditions yields about 40-41 moles per cubic meter of volume, where a mole is one Avogadro’s number (6 × 10²³) worth of particles. — Big Think, 8 May 2026 In Mexico City, Centro Culinario Ambrosía teaches the art of Mexican cuisine in a professional kitchen, walking food enthusiasts through Oaxaca’s rich moles and Yucatán’s smoky spices. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moles
  1. spies
  2. operatives
  3. agents
Noun
  • On Stranger Things, Harbour played police chief Jim Hopper, the surrogate father to Brown's telekinetic teen Eleven, and the new drama from A24 and Netflix finds them as estranged father-daughter spies.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026
  • The District of Columbia's most affluent suburb is McLean, home to diplomats and spies.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of spies
Noun
  • Political operatives tied to Florida Power & Light’s parent company were involved in the scandal, and a former Republican state senator was convicted of violating campaign finance laws.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026
  • That ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of fire by the paramilitary group Hezbollah and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from the South Litani Sector, an area in southern Lebanon.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 26 June 2026
Definition of operatives
Noun
  • Before choosing a whitening method, check the care label for guidance on water temperature, safe cleaning agents, and recommended drying methods.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • When your workforce includes full-time employees, fractional specialists and AI agents, culture becomes about how work gets done, not who does it.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of agents

Browse Nearby Words

molecules
moles
molest
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Cite this Entry

“Moles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moles. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on moles

Nglish: Translation of moles for Spanish Speakers

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