Synonyms for spy
- verb
- noun
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
Other
Noun
1. Espy — A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers…
espy dated, intelligencer dated
Other
secret agent, infiltrator, scout, ninja, ghost, entrapper, spook slang
Definitions
- v. 1
To act as a spy.
During the Cold War, Russia and America would each spy on each other for recon.
- v. 2
To spot; to catch sight of; to espy.
I think I can spy that hot guy coming over here.
- v. 3
To search narrowly; to scrutinize.
- n. 1
A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).
Choose the right word
The scout and the spy are both employed to obtain information of the numbers, movements, etc., of an enemy. The scout lurks on the outskirts of the hostile army with such concealment as the case admits of, but without disguise; a spy enters in disguise within the enemy's lines.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- snoop Snoop Dogg is the most famous weed smoker in the world.
- sleuth The sleuth gave Mennad his card before he left.
- detective The detective took down his testimony on the spot.
By length
- 3 letters
- see1
- 4 letters
- spot1, stag1, espy2
- 5 letters
- sight1, ghost1, scout1, ninja2, snoop1, spook1
- 6 letters
- behold2, sleuth1, descry2
- 7 letters
- discern2
- 9 letters
- detective3, entrapper
- 11 letters
- infiltrator4
- 13 letters
- intelligencer
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (espy2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- espincher