spy 1 of 2

noun

Definition of spynext
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

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spy

2 of 2

verb

ˈspī How to pronounce spy (audio)
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

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 spy
Noun
The making of a spy Cambridge is known as a feeder school for MI6, and Metreweli joined the spy agency in 1999. — Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 Elderly right-wing protesters – some of whom had lived through the Korean War – rallied in the streets, at times calling the president a communist or North Korean spy. — Kelly Kasulis Cho, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026
Verb
Glimmers of this optimism could be spied in the FOMC’s statement, issued ahead of Warsh’s press conference. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 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 See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
  1. operative
  2. spot
  3. agent
  4. eye
  5. undercover
  6. notice
  7. mole
  8. see
Noun
  • In the prosecutor’s statement, the suspect is alleged to have photographed sensitive sites in Israel and then sold the images to an Iranian operative for up to hundreds of dollars.
    — Sophia Mandt, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of operative
Verb
  • They had been spotted in nearby trees but didn’t immediately return to the nest.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Rodríguez Castro made at least 23 private trips aboard a private jet to Panama between 2024 and late 2025, where he was spotted luxury-shopping.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of spot
Noun
  • These gateways address growing concerns about ungoverned AI agents directly interacting with production systems, offering vital governance, security, cost management, and observability.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The agent confiscated the letter, carried by Cuban businessman Roberto Carlos Chamizo, and sent him back to Havana.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of agent
Verb
  • However, the finale shows Oreana eyeing the positive results of a pregnancy test before asking Carter to run away together and start over.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The Swift operations team at Penn State University’s Eberly College of Science has reduced power usage and steered the observatory to eye the cosmos from a more streamlined position.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of eye
Noun
  • The result is that the majority — roughly 70% of public firms — of Self-Dealers and Value-Extractors still practicing MSV undercover are enjoying below-average as shown by the data in Figure 2 from Professor Felix Oberholzer’s book Better Simpler Strategy.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • First, in February 2008, a Dutch TV station aired a confession allegedly made by van der Sloot and captured on a hidden camera by Patrick van der Eem, a businessman working undercover for a Dutch journalist.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Definition of undercover
Verb
  • Court documents say witnesses noticed Lopez acting strangely before the attack.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of notice
Noun
  • Loved for its rich culinary traditions, the city is known for specialties like mole and mezcal, which reflect the region's Indigenous and Spanish heritage.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • Or mountains of chips covered in mole or salsa fortified with chile pasilla in Oaxaca.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of mole
Verb
  • As adult influencers dominate online fashion culture, and tweens and teens see the same content as adults, there are fewer spaces for young people to develop styles of their own.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 2 July 2026
  • Messi was trying to get a ball away from an Algerian player when he was seen digging his cleat into the back of the player’s calf.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of see

Browse Nearby Words

sputum
spy
spying
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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of spy for Spanish Speakers

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