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
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Recent Examples of spy
Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
In the movies, Gugino plays secret spy mother Ingrid Cortez alongside Banderas as her husband Gregorio Cortez and Daryl Sabara and Alexa PenaVega as her children Juni and Carmen.
—Arabella Hau, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
John Archer, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Shauna then spies a swarm of moths attracted to a fluorescent light in the ceiling, dooming themselves to fly toward nothingness again and again and again.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Noun
Now throw in the witchery of artificial intelligence and satellites over every corner of Earth and cameras catching every spy’s wink and nod, and nothing is safe for coordinating a bombing strike except for the secure room with the clouded windows.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
In the movies, Gugino plays secret spy mother Ingrid Cortez alongside Banderas as her husband Gregorio Cortez and Daryl Sabara and Alexa PenaVega as her children Juni and Carmen.
—Arabella Hau, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
That’s a lot of hours to fill in an environment where music is the only entertainment (aside from games of I spy…) that the driver, at least, can safely enjoy.
—John Archer, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Shauna then spies a swarm of moths attracted to a fluorescent light in the ceiling, dooming themselves to fly toward nothingness again and again and again.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
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Back in 2015 Atwell had her own show, Agent Carter, back in the Agents of SHIELD era, chronicling her time as a government operative for two seasons.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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During the Cold War, a similar ban was imposed in 1987 after a U.S. Marine in Moscow was compromised by a Soviet operative.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Songwriter Rob Milton recently spotted not one, but two ladies who have spent time in the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta — Drew Sidora and Claudia Jordan — in an April 2005 episode of Raven-Symoné'sThat’s So Raven.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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However, in a surprising move, the World No. 2 was spotted visiting the Masters course before heading to the Texas Children's Houston Open.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Despite still not having an agent, Marshall had her managers secure her a script and even cut the reel for her self-tape herself.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Apr. 2025
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The defense pointed to several potential suspects at the home at the time, including Albert, his nephew and their friend, an agent for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives who had been exchanging flirty text messages with Read.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Amid the uncertainty, European companies are eyeing an opportunity to pivot away from the U.S. market to avoid the effects of the tariffs.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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New technology being eyed for the fall would also allow students to use a badge when boarding and exiting the bus.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Want to see what else is up for grabs during Wayfair’s undercover Kelly Clarkson Home sale?—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
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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
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According to the Miami Herald, a separate guest stayed in the room with Tillman's dead body in the closet, but didn't notice it.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Correa noticed López motioning toward his leg during a walk of Jonathan India and immediately went to the mound for a visit.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Insider threats have been around for a long time: the CIA mole toiling quietly in the Soviet government office, the Boeing engineer who secretly ferried information about the space shuttle program to the Chinese government.—
Zeynep Tufekci,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
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After perfecting arroz con pollo and sour cherry mole, Mr. Vongerichten admitted that America’s favorite mocktail had slipped through the cracks.—
Shannon Doyne,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Comments James Cameron has unveiled the first official footage from Avatar: Fire and Ash, though the general public may have to wait a little longer to see it.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Organizations must move beyond seeing procurement as merely a cost center.—
Shaz Khan,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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