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Synonyms for

Spy

Noun / spaɪ / Another word for spy — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A person who secretly watches and gathers information about someone or something.

Synonyms & similar words

snoop sight spot stag espy sleuth descry undercoveragent agent detective investigator operative mole informant eavesdropper watcher observer lookout scout sleuth infiltrator intruder trespasser snoop peeper surveillance

Synonyms by register

Formal

agent operative intelligence officer undercover agent

Informal

mole snitch stool pigeon informer

Literary

scout emissary watchman

Antonyms

observer witness spectator outsider civilian noncombatant

Common collocations

  • spy on
  • spy for
  • spy network
  • spy satellite
  • spy plane
  • spy thriller
  • master spy
  • double agent

Word family

noun spy
verb spy
adjective spy

Usage note

The word 'spy' often carries a negative connotation, implying deceit and betrayal. While 'agent' and 'operative' can be neutral, 'spy' is generally used for clandestine activities.

Compare "spy" with another word →

Example sentences

  1. The spy stole the secret plans.
  2. The detective is like a spy who works for the police.
  3. The operative was sent on a mission to spy on the enemy.
  4. The mole was revealed to be a spy for the other side.
  5. The informant provided valuable information to the spy agency.

Quotes

  • I am a spy in the house of me. I report back from the front lines of the battle that is me. I am somewhat nonplused by the event that is my life.
  • If you could be either God's worst enemy or nothing, which would you choose? We're halfway there, and it's a privilege to be God's spy... the only way to truly escape the mundane is for you to constantly be evolving.
  • A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. He steals his experience through bribes and reconstructs it.

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