1
as in stabbing
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 stimulating
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
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Recent Examples of spiking
In a press conference one day after the interview aired, Drewes came forward and tearfully accused Swalwell of spiking her drink at a hotel in 2018 before taking her up to his room.
—
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
To counter cuts from the federal government, Newsom proposed a $300 million fund to insulate Californians from the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax subsidies that are spiking insurance premiums for lower income Americans.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
The move is the latest as companies grapple with spiking prices and shortages of oil and other products caused by the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Yuri Kageyama, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
That was quickly followed by an even hotter wholesale inflation report on Wednesday morning, with the April producer price index (PPI) spiking 6% annually, its biggest jump since 2022.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 13 May 2026
Inflation has topped the Fed’s 2% target for five years and is now rising faster because of spiking gas prices.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 May 2026
The rally is also going strong despite the fact that oil prices are sharply higher, bond yields are rising, inflation is spiking and consumer sentiment is at an all-time low.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Over the next year or more, Americans could also see higher food prices due to spiking fertilizer costs, since around 30% of the world's fertilizer travels through the Strait of Hormuz.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Since the start of the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices have been spiking.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
To counter cuts from the federal government, Newsom proposed a $300 million fund to insulate Californians from the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax subsidies that are spiking insurance premiums for lower income Americans.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
The move is the latest as companies grapple with spiking prices and shortages of oil and other products caused by the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
—Yuri Kageyama, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
That was quickly followed by an even hotter wholesale inflation report on Wednesday morning, with the April producer price index (PPI) spiking 6% annually, its biggest jump since 2022.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 13 May 2026
Inflation has topped the Fed’s 2% target for five years and is now rising faster because of spiking gas prices.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 May 2026
The rally is also going strong despite the fact that oil prices are sharply higher, bond yields are rising, inflation is spiking and consumer sentiment is at an all-time low.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Over the next year or more, Americans could also see higher food prices due to spiking fertilizer costs, since around 30% of the world's fertilizer travels through the Strait of Hormuz.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Since the start of the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices have been spiking.
—Noel Brennan, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiking
Verb
-
Authorities were hunting for three days for the suspect after a gruesome late-night stabbing murder on Sunday in a laundry room in the Nordheim Court apartments.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
An Alhambra man faces a possible 24-year prison sentence for fatally stabbing a 17-year-old boy waiting for his mother and for trying to kill a man, both in El Sereno, three years ago.—
Ruby Gonzales,
Daily News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
This could be the postprandial transmission of the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which signals fullness to the brain, or oestrogen from the ovaries, which is sent to pubertal breast tissue, stimulating it to grow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
For CEOs, CHROs, and transformation leads wrestling with AI disruption, hybrid work, and unrelenting competition, The Octopus Organization is stimulating reading.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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This is as important, and as boring, in theory, as picking a fund for your 401(k), yet, improbably, the draft has become one of the largest events on the sporting calendar.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
So picking the right actors was very important for me.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Return to a boil, gently stirring the gnocchi to prevent sticking.—
Kate Williams,
AJC.com,
18 May 2026
-
Set aside at room temperature, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and mixture is syrupy, about 30 minutes.—
Erin Merhar,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
With the stick shortened, Sweets went into surgery, where vets discovered that the stick had gone into and through the dog's abdomen, puncturing the abdominal wall on the other side, but not the skin.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Shloime Rand, 34, was stabbed in the chest outside a synagogue, puncturing his lung, and Norman Shine, 76, who was wearing a traditional Jewish skullcap, was stabbed in the neck at a bus stop.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The president has kept up his criticism of Leo, jabbing the pope in a May 4 interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on the eve of Rubio’s visit.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
In the 10 months since, Colbert has not held back, regularly jabbing his network, its new owners’ cozy relationship with the president and reports that his show was hemorrhaging $40 million a year.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The Diotima Quartet gave an exacting, piercing account of the work.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
In this piercing account of the American Dream in tatters, the magnitude of that dimension feels appropriate, echoing the currents of betrayal, fear and death that course through the film like rivulets of blood.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Return to a boil, gently stirring the gnocchi to prevent sticking.—
Kate Williams,
AJC.com,
18 May 2026
-
Still, after sticking Annie so deeply in the psychological trenches, gesturing to the light at the end of the tunnel is also welcome.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spiking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiking. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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