spy synonyms

spy

n.

secret agent, intelligence agent, counterintelligence agent, counterspy, operative, espionage agent, double agent, emissary, scout, detective, observer, watcher, wiretapper, intelligencer, undercover man, secret-service agent, peeping Tom, mole*, spook*, Mata Hari*.

spy

v.

  1. To see

    view, behold, descry; see see 1.

  2. To act as a spy

    scout, observe, watch, examine, scrutinize, take note, search, discover, look for, hunt, turn over, peer, pry, spy upon, set a watch on, hound, trail, follow, gumshoe*, heel*, sleuth*, spot*, fish out*; see also meddle 1, 2.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.