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spies

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 picket plant scout sleeper sleuth snoop spook spotter watcher

WEAK

double agent espionage agent foreign agent inside agent intelligencer

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.

BEIJING—Chinese spies are increasingly posing as job recruiters on LinkedIn and other professional networking sites to recruit Western military and government personnel, the U.S. and its intelligence allies warned this week, reinforcing calls for vigilance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

The Five Eyes bulletin warns China's spies "seek to acquire privileged military, political and economic intelligence that can provide China with a strategic and tactical advantage".

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Last year, the government faced a row after proposing amendments that would see spies brought within the scope of the law, but only with the approval of the head of their services.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The Central Intelligence Agency in recent months published unusually bold videos in Mandarin openly recruiting Chinese spies from the ranks of the country’s military.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Rather than a prisoner transport bus, Sara left the courthouse in a limousine with two people who claimed to be spies.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti