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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of spy
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
The spy thriller The 355 (2022) reunited Collie with Chastain alongside a cast that included Penélope Cruz and Diane Kruger.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2024
While Olympia, Billy and Sarah go to ask Jimmy for his security cam footage, Matty spies some schoolgirls talking about their friend’s murder.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spy 
Noun
Last week, South Korea said its spy agency uncovered evidence of 1,500 North Korean officers' arrival in Russia by using facial recognition technology and artificial intelligence to identify them.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
The spy thriller The 355 (2022) reunited Collie with Chastain alongside a cast that included Penélope Cruz and Diane Kruger.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Lee first spies him in the evening street, in the middle of a crowd gawking at a cockfight.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Sep. 2024
While Olympia, Billy and Sarah go to ask Jimmy for his security cam footage, Matty spies some schoolgirls talking about their friend’s murder.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spy
Noun
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Others are blaming the operatives who have run the party’s last several campaigns.Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
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Western intelligence agencies believe that Russian operatives orchestrated the scheme to plant incendiary devices in parcels bound for North America, according to officials.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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For Hield, off-ball shooting and player movement is much more natural than spotting up around Joel Embiid post-ups.Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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According to Taiwanese rural folklore, figures spotted in yellow coats in the mountainous forests are not human, but ghosts who seek to lead the living astray.Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Owens is alleged to have accepted $125,000 in cash from one of the agents on the yacht, according to the indictment.Bracey Harris, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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The Diplomat’s shorter second season is still consumed by the mystery of who’s behind the attacks that kicked off season one (the naval explosion that killed dozens of British sailors) and provided its cliffhanger (a car bomb resulting in the deaths of an American agent and a British MP).Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Alexis couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone was watching her, looking at her, eyeing her as the only person in the room when Onyxx died of some unknown cause.Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024
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Having studied the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 election, both were now eying plans to disrupt each of the procedural steps between Election Day and the Inauguration, such as the December 11th deadline for each state to ascertain a winner, and the December 17th meeting of each state’s electors.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Starring Sean Penn, it was based on a book Crowe wrote after spending a year undercover as a student at Clairemont High School in San Diego.Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 July 2024
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Blazer had been wearing a wire, working in tandem with an FBI undercover, ensnaring more than ten coaches in an elaborate plot that revealed corruption in the basketball programs at Louisville, Arizona, LSU, USC and other schools.Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024
Verb
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Diners will soon notice new lighting at the restaurants and new music as part of Adamolekun’s efforts to attract younger customers who might have grown up going to the chain but haven’t been back for some time.CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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Some Mail users may notice that the change has already been implemented, and clicking on Mail will open the new Outlook app instead.Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But most notable is the mole, a blend of nearly 30 ingredients that result in a delicate, slightly sweet sauce with hints of plantain, sesame, and chilhuacle pepper.Caroline Tell, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
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Mole gift boxes at Guelaguetza Silken, rich and fragrant with spices, Guelaguetza’s moles are a thing of beauty in all their colors and flavors.Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Instead Trump swept the swing states, won the popular vote and saw Republicans secure control of both houses of Congress.Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
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There were moments of vulnerability never seen from him before.Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near spy
Cite this Entry
“Spy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spy. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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