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
Milton Guevara, NPR, 15 May 2025
Saw is clearly growing more paranoid, and accuses Mon of sending spies after him before cutting off communication.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Ana Swanson, New York Times, 2 May 2025
The focus is on merchandising locations, but those who study the image will spy an opera house and a general store, believed to be the first time such concepts appear.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Noun
Ian Fleming, the British writer best known for creating the world's most famous spy, is back in the spotlight decades after his death.
—Milton Guevara, NPR, 15 May 2025
Saw is clearly growing more paranoid, and accuses Mon of sending spies after him before cutting off communication.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Verb
On YouTube, the C.I.A. is posting videos that aim to recruit Chinese officials to spy for the agency.
—Ana Swanson, New York Times, 2 May 2025
The focus is on merchandising locations, but those who study the image will spy an opera house and a general store, believed to be the first time such concepts appear.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
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Mission now accomplished, Kittridge and U.S. Intelligence operative Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham) — revealed to be the son of Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) from the first Mission — show up with a peace offering for Ethan.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
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Prior to joining the Hunger Games franchise, he was best known for his portrayal of CIA operative Felix Leiter in the James Bond films.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
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They usually are spotted alone or in groups of two or three and use side-lunging as a way of feeding on schools of fish, the NOAA said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2025
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With a portfolio that has included Apple, Google, WhatsApp, and Stripe, Sequoia’s longstanding dominance on the list is an indicator of the firm’s ability to spot visionary founders and back them through all stages of growth.—
TrueBridge Capital,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
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When Mission: Impossible began, and Cruise had not yet completed his transformation into a celluloid being whose veins flowed with red carpets, his character, Ethan Hunt, had more modest concerns, like finding moles in the IMF and protecting the identities of undercover CIA agents.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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The agents, most of which are set to be available by the end of 2025, can perform a variety of tasks; one handles sourcing and procurement, while another creates and manages quotes and still another orchestrates stock and handles in-store inventory details.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
23 May 2025
Verb
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More recently, speculation has centered on Raquel Regalado eyeing City Hall.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
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Half a century later, President Donald Trump seems to be eyeing a similar diplomatic maneuver, but in reverse: drawing Russia closer to the United States in order to give Washington an advantage in its geopolitical competition with Communist China.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
30 May 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
-
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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Other journalists noticed a drop-off in performance for the convertibles, and probably more so than the mild weight gains of just about 100 lbs (45 kg) might suggest.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
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Karen Walsh began to notice a change in her husband back in 2017.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Phelps is eventually revealed to be the IMF mole and dies while trying to flee (for good, this time).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
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But in November 2024, a nurse friend shared her concerns about the mole, prompting the 46-year-old mom of one to see her doctor about the mark on her skin.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Verb
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The seashore added that those who see wildlife in need of help can call its hotline at (252) 216-6892.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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The South African government has also been a vocal defender of Palestinians in Gaza who have seen their homes destroyed and access to food cut off by the Israeli military, a position that’s frustrated Trump administration officials.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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