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
Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Helly’s life, acting as a spy to gather intelligence against the Microdat revolutionaries.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Thomas C. Zambito, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope to spy fireworks of light radiating near the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Noun
Watch On The Ariane 6 had been scheduled to launch a French spy satellite from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana today at 11:24 a.m.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Helly’s life, acting as a spy to gather intelligence against the Microdat revolutionaries.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
Minutes before, a camera had spied a Tom Cruise movie playing on a TV mounted to the lobby wall.
—Thomas C. Zambito, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope to spy fireworks of light radiating near the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
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After being asked by the FBI employee, Pang also agreed to provide two US military uniforms for operatives to wear inside the base during the attack, and a cell phone that could be used as a test for a detonator, court documents say.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
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So the big reveal on the Epstein Files is that SOME of them were given to a group of right-wing social media operatives?—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Bottega Veneta’s luxury fashion has been spotted on celebs including Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Demi Moore.—
Megan Schaltegger,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
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The claim concerned the rushed dealing to infuse money into the fledgling league, a rush that deprived DCP of a chance to conduct the type of due diligence that might have spotted some of the problems that later surfaced.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Caro Quintero was released when a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of DEA agent Camarena.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
28 Feb. 2025
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The former leader of a Mexican cartel, thought responsible for the 1985 death of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent in the 1980s, was among 29 defendants extradited to the United States Thursday.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The 31-year-old PGA Tour pro is teeing off at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, eyeing the $20 million purse.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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The House passed a resolution last month, but its fate now rests with the Senate, which is eyeing significant changes.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
6 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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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been spotted out and about with their three children, and people are noticing their closeness.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
7 Mar. 2025
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The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas keeps a tally of layoff notices.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Another key witness in the trial — Daniel Solis, the former alderman and FBI mole — didn’t fare nearly as well, Nessner said.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2025
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Anderson also made a big batch of mole and avoided passing out from chile fumes, then moved on to homemade masa and a Georgian walnut spread.—
Matthew Korfhage,
WIRED,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Seattle saw some of Darnold’s best work up close in Minnesota’s Week 16 win at Lumen Field.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
The Athletic,
11 Mar. 2025
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Houston, which used just three reserves the majority of the night before emptying its bench in the final minutes, saw its bench total 25.—
Jason Beede,
Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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