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
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Sakhno), the ultimate killer infiltration spy.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Within minutes my father spied Ernie Banks signing autographs at the wall.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Noun
Lady Patriot dramatizes the true story of Mary Bowser, a Black woman who was formerly enslaved and may have worked as a pro-Union spy in Jefferson Davis' Confederate White House during the American Civil War.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Sakhno), the ultimate killer infiltration spy.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Pentagon has deployed unmanned aircraft for spying missions over the Black Sea, with one drone downed by a Russian fighter jet in March 2023.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Within minutes my father spied Ernie Banks signing autographs at the wall.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
-
Israeli airstrikes on Doha that killed Hamas operatives have intensified regional drama and prompted emergency meetings of Arab and Islamic leaders in the Qatari capital on September 14.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Jayson is not entirely thrilled that two of his operatives are dead and their child, Sam, is missing.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Soldiers have also been spotted in parks carrying out tasks typically assigned to gardeners and landscapers – shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and scooping up trash.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
On third-and-2 at the CU 20, the Buffs QB hurried left with seemingly the entire Houston defense in pursuit, spotted Omarion Miller just past the line of scrimmage, and shoveled him the ball before the red jerseys closed in.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In a video taken by a security camera at his mother's driveway, obtained by ABC News, a federal agent can be heard asking Gamez Lira to turn off the engine and to not resist.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The Blackhawks and Kaiser’s agent had been negotiating for some time this offseason, but neither side had been in a rush, with the 23-year-old Kaiser having no arbitration rights.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bank is eyeing SouthPark to build its first branch.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Sep. 2025
-
With so much fashion existing online, there’s something refreshing about trying pieces on in-store after eyeing them first on a little screen.—
Libby Page,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Season 2 of the hit Paramount+ series will continue following Martian (Michael Fassbender), a CIA agent living undercover in his own life.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Masks were once largely forbidden on the federal level unless an agent was working undercover, said Michael Bouchard, a former assistant director at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives who retired in 2007.—
Byron Tau,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
While the container comes with a month's worth of capsules, many reviewers noticed results way sooner.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Most notably the Democrats in Nevada's congressional delegation noticed.—
Peter J Reilly,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
After World War I, fur remained a status garment, though lower-cost furs like skunk, mole, and musquash entered mainstream winter wear.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The answers have to come fast and furious, as the moles keep rearing their ugly heads.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lerner says some customers see savings of 30 to 50 percent in their first month.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
This announcement came as a bit of a shock, given The Vampire Diaries actor and Olympic gold medalist had been seen holding hands at an outdoor market as recently as August 31.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share