as in espionage
the secret gathering of information on others
traditionally, anyone caught engaging in spying during wartime was shot or hanged
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in noticing
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 spying
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Jet-like capabilities The tank has radar, electronic tools for spying, and advanced communication systems.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
The United States continues its spying activity in Northeast Asia amid China's military threat, as one of its unmanned aircraft was spotted flying near the East Asian power.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Relying on other countries leaves Japan vulnerable to spying and sabotage, and China has laid tens of thousands of miles of cable around the world in the last decade.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Smart devices such as security cameras, thermostats and speakers can be taken over and used for spying or as part of larger cyberattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Weil is currently adapting for United Artists and Conclave director Edward Berger the film about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal‘s foreign correspondent who was thrown into a Russian prison for a year on bogus spying charges.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2025
President Jimmy Carter selected Webster, a Republican, for a 10-year term as FBI chief as the bureau sought to improve an image tarnished by revelations of domestic spying, internal corruption and other abuses of power.
—Douglass K. Daniel, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
In addition to risking the franchise with spying activities, why would Nvidia want to bring harm to China in the first place?
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Depending on your age and foreign language ability, fulfilling your James Bond spy fantasies may not be very realistic—but spying for the British government just got more accessible.
—PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, Iranian state media reported, after the rights group Amnesty International said the man, Babak Shahbazi, had been sentenced to death in an unfair trial marred by allegations of torture.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In a December 2023 Slate editorial, security researcher Bruce Schneier warned that AI models could enable unprecedented mass spying by automating the analysis and summarization of vast conversation datasets.
—Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson struggled to balance spying the mobile USF signal caller with upholding UF’s zone coverage on crossing routes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
After spying the lipstick backstage at a Diotima show, senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden was instantly intrigued—even though mattes aren’t typically her cup of tea.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
The sentencing of Earl and Reeves came after British police on Thursday arrested three men in their forties on suspicion of spying for Russia.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Jet-like capabilities The tank has radar, electronic tools for spying, and advanced communication systems.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025
The United States continues its spying activity in Northeast Asia amid China's military threat, as one of its unmanned aircraft was spotted flying near the East Asian power.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Relying on other countries leaves Japan vulnerable to spying and sabotage, and China has laid tens of thousands of miles of cable around the world in the last decade.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Smart devices such as security cameras, thermostats and speakers can be taken over and used for spying or as part of larger cyberattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Weil is currently adapting for United Artists and Conclave director Edward Berger the film about Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal‘s foreign correspondent who was thrown into a Russian prison for a year on bogus spying charges.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2025
President Jimmy Carter selected Webster, a Republican, for a 10-year term as FBI chief as the bureau sought to improve an image tarnished by revelations of domestic spying, internal corruption and other abuses of power.
—Douglass K. Daniel, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
In addition to risking the franchise with spying activities, why would Nvidia want to bring harm to China in the first place?
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Dubai Reuters — An Iranian lower court handed heavy prison sentences to two French citizens charged with spying for France and Israel, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday, a week after Paris and Tehran indicated progress in talks to release them.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Depending on your age and foreign language ability, fulfilling your James Bond spy fantasies may not be very realistic—but spying for the British government just got more accessible.
—PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, Iranian state media reported, after the rights group Amnesty International said the man, Babak Shahbazi, had been sentenced to death in an unfair trial marred by allegations of torture.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In a December 2023 Slate editorial, security researcher Bruce Schneier warned that AI models could enable unprecedented mass spying by automating the analysis and summarization of vast conversation datasets.
—Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson struggled to balance spying the mobile USF signal caller with upholding UF’s zone coverage on crossing routes.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
After spying the lipstick backstage at a Diotima show, senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden was instantly intrigued—even though mattes aren’t typically her cup of tea.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spying
Noun
-
When Eden pulls single father Ben Dawson (Hopper) into her world of high-stakes espionage, his life is turned upside down.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Bolton’s attorney Abbe Lowell told the Associated Press that his client’s writings were personal reflections, not espionage.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What researchers actually discovered is a small asteroid following Earth’s orbit, one that’s been traveling alongside us for decades without anyone noticing.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Oct. 2025
-
But the smart ones were noticing.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Between the timing and Elsbeth spotting a shiny, brand-new replacement for Johnny’s beat-up old harness and carabiner, the jig is up, giving Elsbeth a moment to shine on the set of Raquel’s Behind the Black Veil interview, prosecuting her case in the persona of a reality-show host.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
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The robot is also capable of spotting the charging spot perfectly in electric vehicles.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In his eight wins, all eight have come inside the distance, with only two fights seeing a second round.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Looking forward to seeing Becks on our plane ride home.—
Lydia Mee,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the broadcast has lagged in the ratings, while new editor in chief Bari Weiss is said to be eyeing an overhaul of the network’s signature newscast.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Amazon is reportedly eyeing mass job cuts across its corporate employee base.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the comment section, many people expressed different opinions regarding the seating plan.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Newsweek contacted Bower regarding the messages and the evidence supporting their authenticity, but according to Bower’s Lawfare account, Halligan did not dispute any factual inaccuracies in the report.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
According to Disney, viewing of its networks in YouTube TV households is up by more than 15% year-over-year based on gross minutes viewed, citing Nielsen data.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The saving grace is Nobody's excellent ensemble cast, which elevates the predictable material into a breezy and pleasant — if not particularly memorable — viewing experience.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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