spy

[spahy] / spaɪ /

NOUN

person who secretly finds out about another's business

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agent detective informer investigator mole operative secret agent secret service undercover agent

STRONG

emissary lookout observer patrol plant scout sleeper sleuth snoop spotter watcher

WEAK

double agent espionage agent foreign agent inside agent intelligencer plumber

VERB

secretly follow, watch another's actions

Synonyms

STRONGEST

discover examine scrutinize snoop

STRONG

case eyeball glimpse meddle notice observe peep pry reconnoiter scout search shadow sleuth spot stag tail trail view watch

WEAK

catch sight of fish out get a load of keep under surveillance look for recon set eyes on stake out take in take note

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore miss neglect overlook

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Russia on Monday kicked out a British diplomat over allegations he was working as a spy -- charges rejected by London as "complete nonsense".

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

“The spy story can vary enormously. It can be, at one low pole, Ian Fleming, writing to get himself readers and get himself money,” the British author H.R.F.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The court heard how Farooq's first target was RAF Menwith Hill, a spy base near Harrogate which is operated by US and UK staff.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Yuen denied commissioning Wai to carry out surveillance of Hong Kong dissidents based in London, including "never" having asked him to spy on pro-democracy activist Nathan Law.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

This is a story about spies and spy catchers.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

spy

Example Sentences

Related Words