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
Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
On to you, Android crew The easiest way for someone to spy is by logging into your Google account.
—Kim Komando, Fox News, 17 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
More: Narco-submarine crew arrested in plot to ferry thousands of kilos of coke on the high seas
Narco-subs and fishermen spies
Corrupting authorities responsible for finding drug traffickers is just one of the many ways smugglers aim to bring cocaine to the U.S. undetected by law enforcement.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
On to you, Android crew The easiest way for someone to spy is by logging into your Google account.
—Kim Komando, Fox News, 17 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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This is not the first time Bloom and Perry have been spotted vacationing with Sanchez and Bezos.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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On March 19, an employee at Grand Teton National Park spotted a grizzly north of the park’s boundary.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
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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Democrats are also eyeing an opportunity to advance with a win in the Great Lakes state.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
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Guadarrama eyed her up and down, took some measurements, made a few quick alterations, and then began to pepper her with questions about her bra.—
Adam Iscoe,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 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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Whether Larry Fink is driving the debate or simply reacting, the omissions in the annual letter are worth noticing.—
Jon McGowan,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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This means not having their nose in their phone or earbuds in their ears when walking, but instead noticing other people and vehicles on the street.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
31 Mar. 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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This sign is also known as the mediator, thanks to their ability to see different perspectives, and the contrasting moto and boho styles fuse in a way a Libra can make happen.—
Isabella Milano,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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