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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spying
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
Privacy, inseparable from dignity in Islamic ethics, surfaces as a second red line; the Qurʾānic injunction against spying frames debates over data harvesting, data sharing, high-tech surveillance, etc.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 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
Two American citizens remain detained in Iran on suspicion of spying for Israel, state media said, although efforts are ongoing—externally and internally—to secure their release.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 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
The revelations included instances of the CIA’s violating its charter with assassinations, coups, dirty tricks, human drug experimentation, and domestic spying, especially on opponents of Nixon’s war in Southeast Asia.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2020
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
The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying attracted international condemnation.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 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
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
Privacy, inseparable from dignity in Islamic ethics, surfaces as a second red line; the Qurʾānic injunction against spying frames debates over data harvesting, data sharing, high-tech surveillance, etc.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 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
Two American citizens remain detained in Iran on suspicion of spying for Israel, state media said, although efforts are ongoing—externally and internally—to secure their release.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 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
The revelations included instances of the CIA’s violating its charter with assassinations, coups, dirty tricks, human drug experimentation, and domestic spying, especially on opponents of Nixon’s war in Southeast Asia.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2020
Verb
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
The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying attracted international condemnation.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 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
-
The scheme was traced to the Kimsuky group, which has been known to engage in cyber espionage for the North Korean government.—
Senior Reporter,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The Register reported that a key example is the case of dual Chinese/American citizen Chenguang Gong, who pleaded guilty to industrial espionage.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nutrafol Skin Clear Skin Nutraceutical was born because Nutrafol’s team was hearing from dermatologists that some patients taking Nutrafol’s hair growth supplements were also noticing their acne clear up.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The Times, however, reported that the boat had turned around after noticing a military aircraft following it.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fire will mainly creep and smolder, and spotting potential will be reduced by higher relative humidity.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Colorado potato beetles on your potatoes, a defoliated tomato branch (likely due to tomato hornworms), or some spotting on your zinnias are all easily visible.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kolvet told Fortune that he is dedicated to seeing Kirk’s podcast continue, but a detailed plan is still in the works.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Even brief, ambient points of contact — waiting for a table, sharing the dining room, seeing who else is seated nearby — may shift how people view one another, as well as their own economic prospects.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With so much fashion existing online, there’s something refreshing about trying pieces on in-store after eyeing them first on a little screen.—
Libby Page,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Despite modest online traction and a vocal fanbase for his solo work, breaking free from a long-running TV persona — especially one as iconic as Archie Andrews — is a familiar challenge for actors eyeing to seriously break into a new field like music.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Details have yet to come out regarding the specifics of the policy violation.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The recipient of this information must make its own independent decisions regarding any securities, investment products or other financial products mentioned herein.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But for those who simply can’t wait to watch old-era and new-era contestants battling it out for ultimate bragging rights, Probst notes that the Survivor 50 viewing experience actually begins with what is about to unfold on Survivor 49.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Tom’s appeal includes an elevated menu offering lobster tacos and craft beers and its dedication to a 360-degree viewing experience on game day, cramming each restaurant with more than 100 televisions tuned to multiple sports around the country.—
Brett Knight,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spying. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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