spied
Noticed from afar
Spied is the past tense of spy.
To spy is to watch secretly, often for intelligence purposes: She spied on the neighbors through the blinds.
To spy something is to catch sight of it: He spied a familiar face in the crowd.
The word carries connotations of stealth and discovery.
Became aware of
- glimpsedSaw briefly, fleetingly
- spottedSeen or patterned
- sightedCapable of vision
- detectedNoticed or found
perceived · discerned · witnessed · beheld · eyed · viewed · caught sight of · made out
Saw with attention
- monitoredObserved systematically over time
- trackedFollowed the course of
- tailedFollowed in secret
- shadowedFollowed covertly
followed · staked out · bugged · wiretapped · recorded · surveilled · snooped · eavesdropped
Secretive and sly
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
sneaky · undetected · unseen · incognito · undercover · discreet · sub rosa · on the sly
One who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- informantOne who provides intelligence
mole · handler · asset · covert · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mission · debrief
noticed
Became aware of
detected · perceived · discerned · witnessed · beheld · eyed · viewed · caught sight of · made out · descried
watched
Saw with attention
shadowed · followed · staked out · bugged · wiretapped · recorded · surveilled · snooped · eavesdropped · scrutinized
furtive
Secretive and sly
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
clandestine · sneaky · undetected · unseen · incognito · undercover · discreet · sub rosa · on the sly · peeked
agent
One who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
informant · mole · handler · asset · covert · reconnaissance · counterintelligence · mission · debrief · infiltrate
spiedmissed
Failed to reach
overlooked · ignored · disregarded · passed over · neglected
- industrial spiesTheft operatives targeting businesses
- Bridge of Spies2015 espionage legal drama
- atomic spiesThose who leaked bomb secrets