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
Relevance
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
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 spiking
Its online map displays readouts from people’s at-home sensors, better reflecting if a nearby traffic jam or mail truck is spiking fumes, a neighbor starts burning trash, or a local factory releases a smoke plume.
—
Matt Fuchs, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Skip sugary snacks at night to prevent spiking blood sugar and energy levels.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Infant mortality had been trending down in the US for decades before spiking in 2022, and the new CDC report shows that the infant mortality rate has still not recovered.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But while Amodei thinks that AI could swipe half of white-collar roles in the next five years, spiking unemployment up to 20%, Yampolskiy said that joblessness could reach as high as 99% in that same time frame.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
And only then does Fox get around to spiking the football.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are spiking in Jefferson County, public health officials said, and wastewater monitoring indicates high levels of the virus in the Louisville area.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 30 Aug. 2025
The attacks have led to prices spiking and gas stations in some Russian regions running dry.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
Owolewa also raised questions about crime spiking after the National Guard leaves if there is no long-term investment in the community.
—Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 23 Aug. 2025
Matt Fuchs, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Skip sugary snacks at night to prevent spiking blood sugar and energy levels.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Infant mortality had been trending down in the US for decades before spiking in 2022, and the new CDC report shows that the infant mortality rate has still not recovered.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But while Amodei thinks that AI could swipe half of white-collar roles in the next five years, spiking unemployment up to 20%, Yampolskiy said that joblessness could reach as high as 99% in that same time frame.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
And only then does Fox get around to spiking the football.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are spiking in Jefferson County, public health officials said, and wastewater monitoring indicates high levels of the virus in the Louisville area.
—Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 30 Aug. 2025
The attacks have led to prices spiking and gas stations in some Russian regions running dry.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
Owolewa also raised questions about crime spiking after the National Guard leaves if there is no long-term investment in the community.
—Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiking
Verb
-
Advertisement Advertisement Adolescence, a series about a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller (Cooper), who is arrested because he’s accused of stabbing a female classmate, racked up 13 Emmy nominations this year.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The homeless felon accused of stabbing a young Ukrainian commuter to death on a Charlotte light rail train comes from a household where run-ins with the law have been a way of life.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Produced from the Montepulciano grape, this is among the most flavorful and stimulating examples of rosé made today.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Some mobiles do play soothing music, but the music will probably not be enough to calm your baby if the objects above them are still stimulating.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But a growing number of people seem to be picking the team to finish first in the AFC West.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Prices vary based on color and size, but shoppers will score the biggest discounts when picking them up in Portman’s exact mushroom shade.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Joe Manchin is back to stirring the pot in Washington.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Hurricane season is stirring again after an unusual three-week quiet spell.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wi-Fi 7's puncturing capability is designed to isolate the interference, enabling devices to use the remainder of the channel.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 Sep. 2025
-
These posts implicitly criticize the government by puncturing its narrative of economic progress.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Even Kendall Vertes, who also starred on Dance Moms, posted a TikTok video playfully jabbing at the fact that Siwa was in anything but her casual outfits.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Riyadh Season opened with a punch — literally — as viral clips showed Mike Tyson jabbing YouTube star MrBeast alongside Saudi entertainment chief Turki Al-Sheikh.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The region’s oft-sung-about grayness turns neon, swirling together in a piercing hue of evergreen and dark blues.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
16 Sep. 2025
-
When Kim Kardashian and her 12-year-old daughter were spotted in Rome recently, the masses zeroed in on the dermal piercing North West had in her middle finger.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lighter scratches only touch the surface while moderate to deep scratches can usually be felt by sticking your fingernail in the slit to determine how deep the scratch really is.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Some hunters insist upon sticking game to expedite bleeding.—
Maurice H. Decker,
Outdoor Life,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiking. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share