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Spy: alternatives and connections

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26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
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Spy

To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see.

86 useful connections shown 49 reviewed relationships and 37 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Broader term 14

Comprehend 76% connected

To contain; to embrace; to include; as, the states comprehended in the Austrian Empire.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Enquire 76% connected

See Inquire.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Inquire 76% connected

To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by putting queries.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Investigate 76% connected

To follow up step by step by patient inquiry or observation; to trace or track mentally; to search into; to inquire and examine into with care and ac…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Looker 76% connected

One who looks.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Monitor 76% connected

One who admonishes; one who warns of faults, informs of duty, or gives advice and instruction by way of reproof or caution.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Operative 76% connected

Having the power of acting; hence, exerting force, physical or moral; active in the production of effects; as, an operative motive.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Perceive 76% connected

To obtain knowledge of through the senses; to receive impressions from by means of the bodily organs; to take cognizance of the existence, character,…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Sight 76% connected

The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Spectator 76% connected

One who on; one who sees or beholds; a beholder; one who is personally present at, and sees, any exhibition; as, the spectators at a show.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Supervise 76% connected

To oversee for direction; to superintend; to inspect with authority; as, to supervise the construction of a steam engine, or the printing of a book.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Viewer 76% connected

One who views or examines.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Watcher 76% connected

One who watches; one who sits up or continues; a diligent observer; specifically, one who attends upon the sick during the night.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Witness 76% connected

Attestation of a fact or an event; testimony.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Manner of action 8

Descry 76% connected

To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or obscure; to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Detect 76% connected

Detected.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Discover 76% connected

To uncover.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Espy 76% connected

To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to see at a glance; to dis…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Find 76% connected

To meet with, or light upon, accidentally; to gain the first sight or knowledge of, as of something new, or unknown; hence, to fall in with, as a per…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Notice 76% connected

The act of noting, remarking, or observing; observation by the senses or intellect; cognizance; note.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Observe 76% connected

To take notice of by appropriate conduct; to conform one's action or practice to; to keep; to heed; to obey; to comply with; as, to observe rules or…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Spot 76% connected

A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Narrower term 4

Mole 76% connected

A spot; a stain; a mark which discolors or disfigures.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Shadow 76% connected

Shade within defined limits; obscurity or deprivation of light, apparent on a surface, and representing the form of the body which intercepts the ray…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Sleeper 76% connected

One who sleeps; a slumberer; hence, a drone, or lazy person.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Tail 76% connected

Limitation; abridgment.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a narrower or more specific lexical category.

Derivationally related 14

Ken 74% connected

A house; esp., one which is a resort for thieves.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Ken 74% connected

A house; esp., one which is a resort for thieves.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Sight 74% connected

The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Sight 74% connected

The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Sleuth 74% connected

The track of man or beast as followed by the scent.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Sleuth 74% connected

The track of man or beast as followed by the scent.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Spying 74% connected

of Spy

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Spying 74% connected

of Spy

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

View 74% connected

The act of seeing or beholding; sight; look; survey; examination by the eye; inspection.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

View 74% connected

The act of seeing or beholding; sight; look; survey; examination by the eye; inspection.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Entails 3

Inquire 72% connected

To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by putting queries.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Investigate 72% connected

To follow up step by step by patient inquiry or observation; to trace or track mentally; to search into; to inquire and examine into with care and ac…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Synonym 6

Descry 92% connected

To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or obscure; to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Espy 92% connected

To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to see at a glance; to dis…

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Sight 92% connected

The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Sleuth 92% connected

The track of man or beast as followed by the scent.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Spot 92% connected

A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Stag 92% connected

The adult male of the red deer (Cervus elaphus), a large European species closely related to the American elk, or wapiti.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Words connected by meaning

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