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
Relevance
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
Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
SpaceX lofted yet another batch of next-gen spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) this morning (April 20).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
Although not a household name like the CIA or FBI, the NSA is a vast and extremely high-tech spying agency that specializes in gathering signals intelligence – more commonly known as electronic eavesdropping - around the world, in space and more recently in cyberspace.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Noun
Cuneo’s anti-Nazi operations, orchestrated from innocuous offices in New York’s Rockefeller Center, helped identify German spy rings and spread British propaganda, including by disseminating fabrications about Berlin’s intentions in Latin America.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
SpaceX lofted yet another batch of next-gen spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) this morning (April 20).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
California is famous for its native wildflowers that blossom each year—lookie-loos might spy iris, sky lupines, bluebells, dessert lilies, and arguably the most famous flower (the state’s official one), the California poppy.
—Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
Although not a household name like the CIA or FBI, the NSA is a vast and extremely high-tech spying agency that specializes in gathering signals intelligence – more commonly known as electronic eavesdropping - around the world, in space and more recently in cyberspace.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
-
Rather, Nick Badolato, a Brooklyn Conservative Party operative, collected signatures to run on the party’s line against Zhuang.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2025
-
In one case, operatives posing as art dealers interested in purchasing a work by a dissident artist secretly installed surveillance equipment in his workplace and a GPS tracker on his car.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Abby went out to take watch and spotted two people on horseback, later revealed to be Joel and Dina, who had gone out early on patrol together.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Notably, one is the worker who spotted the tendrils in the pipes but didn’t have the opportunity to share that update with anyone.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Those qualities should top your list of agent must-haves, along with clear communication and high client ratings.—
Berit Thorkelson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Sellers can now choose whether to offer buyer agent compensation through MLS platforms—a change that has already begun reshaping how homes are bought and sold across the country.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But companies have long eyed the ocean floor as a potential source of metals like nickel, cobalt, manganese and copper, which are used in batteries for electric vehicles and other technologies.—
Julia Simon,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Promoters had eyed the Sacramento market for about a decade.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Want to see what else is up for grabs during Wayfair’s undercover Kelly Clarkson Home sale?—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The Confidential Rental and Leasing Office, created under former Commissioner Ray Kelly, has an important core purpose: to give investigators, including undercovers, a way to procure and use a range of vehicles that don’t automatically give them away, which standard unmarked cop cars tend to do.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Is there construction around Epic Universe? Those who have been to Epic Universe's previews or have driven around the area recently might notice the construction on the roads and areas outside of the park.—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
-
After his College Hill debut, his skin cleared up and people noticed.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The mole is larger than 6 millimeters across Evolving: The mole's appearance changes Prevention of Skin Cancer Most cases of skin cancer are due to skin damage from UV rays.—
Casey Gallagher,
Health,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The menu was created by executive chef Fernanda Serrano and takes cues from her upbringing in Mexico, with cuisine highlights like pink mole and pulpo pibil.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
When Jamey Ice, a musician and entrepreneur who remodels century-old homes, received a text from a California rabbi who came to town to see Ice’s house on Sixth Avenue.—
Hollace Ava Weiner,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2025
-
From New York to Hollywood and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to Comments Stars have been everywhere this week.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share