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spy Synonyms

Another word for spy

Choosing another word for spy depends on context, so the 34 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

A person employed by a government, intelligence agency, or organization to secretly obtain confidential information about another country, rival, or competitor.

Usage Example

"The historical novel follows a diplomat who secretly worked as a secret agent during the nineteenth century."

Strongest
secret agent
intelligence agent
undercover agent
Strong
operative
mole
infiltrator
spook
double agent
informant
sleeper

• verb (Context 2)

To secretly collect and report confidential information about the activities, plans, or operations of a rival, organization, or foreign power.

Usage Example

"Corporate investigators discovered that a former contractor had been hired to snoop on the company's research laboratory."

Strong
snoop
surveil
eavesdrop
keep tabs on
stake out
tail
shadow
Weak
infiltrate

• noun (Context 3)

A person who secretly watches or monitors the activities and movements of others.

Usage Example

"The children joked that their curious neighbor was a snoop because he was always peering through his curtains."

Strongest
snoop
snooper
Strong
eavesdropper
watcher
lookout
scout
Weak
informer

• verb (Context 4)

To discern, catch sight of, or notice someone or something, especially from a distance or by looking carefully.

Usage Example

"Walking along the shoreline, she managed to spot a rare seabird nesting among the coastal cliffs."

Strongest
spot
espy
catch sight of
sight
Strong
glimpse
discern
make out
notice
descry
observe

Opposites of spy

The opposite of spy shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

miss
overlook
See all opposites of spy

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Spy. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/spy
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