1
as in stabs
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
scorpions use their stinger-equipped tails to spike their prey
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in stimulates
to give life, vigor, or spirit to
he spiked what otherwise would have been a dry economic lecture with some jokes and anecdotes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spikes
Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
When demand spikes, the air is warmed again.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
This recent history reminds us just how brutally inflation spikes can demolish market confidence.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
On hot days when residents and businesses need water most, data center water demand spikes too.
—Shaolei Ren, IEEE Spectrum, 10 Sep. 2025
But during peak tax filing months, his call volume spikes by over 50%.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Flower spikes open sequentially from the bottom to the top, with approximately twenty flowers per stem.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Tokischa’s hair spikes out like jagged rays of an eccentric sun, bleached in a shade of unapologetic, brassy yellow.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Once the moon enters your sign on Tuesday, your energy spikes, giving you the urge to go, go, go.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
The latest jobs market data confirmed mounting fears of a labor market heading in the wrong direction and the need for the central bank to move sooner rather than later before unemployment spikes.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
When demand spikes, the air is warmed again.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
This recent history reminds us just how brutally inflation spikes can demolish market confidence.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
On hot days when residents and businesses need water most, data center water demand spikes too.
—Shaolei Ren, IEEE Spectrum, 10 Sep. 2025
But during peak tax filing months, his call volume spikes by over 50%.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Flower spikes open sequentially from the bottom to the top, with approximately twenty flowers per stem.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Tokischa’s hair spikes out like jagged rays of an eccentric sun, bleached in a shade of unapologetic, brassy yellow.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
Once the moon enters your sign on Tuesday, your energy spikes, giving you the urge to go, go, go.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spikes
Verb
-
After a dramatic confrontation among all parties, Jonah stabs Henry in the chest and shoots him point-blank in the head.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
18 Sep. 2025
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The video shows Zarutska sit in a seat in front of Brown, who fixates on her and after several minutes pulls out a knife and stabs her several times in the neck, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.—
Danielle Battaglia,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mechanistically, exercise improves vascular function, metabolic health, and stimulates the release of endogenous anti-inflammatory mediators.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The chemical targets a different system in the brain than standard antidepressants, triggering the release of glutamate, which stimulates the growth of new synapses between brain cells.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still, today’s announcement felt especially phoned in, as if the organizers threw darts at SNL musical guests and hoped for the best.—
Arielle Gordon,
Pitchfork,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Management will need to throw many darts and hope to get a few close to the center of the board.—
Dr. Jonathan Reichental,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Several big technology stocks provided upside for the market, led by jumps of more than 4% and 3% in Alphabet and Tesla, respectively.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Upgrading your skills further adds new moves such as super jumps, rampaging charges, and powerful smash attacks.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Wolff's reported talks with Verstappen for a potential move to his team in F1 made headlines ahead of the summer break, while George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli's contract extensions were kept on hold for the same reason.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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That tie-up also gave Genius the ability to sell ads across the NFL’s digital extensions.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old?—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hoosiers can hunt frogs with bow and arrows, clubs, some firearms, or simply, their hands, but Plumier teaches those gathered at Goose Pond how to use gigs — long, multi-pronged spears that look a little bit like tridents.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
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Just like tajín, chamoy makes a delicious accent for watermelon, jicama and cucumber spears.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spikes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spikes. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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