spiked 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of spikednext
as in spiky

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spiked

2 of 2

verb

past tense of spike
1
as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object scorpions use their stinger-equipped tails to spike their prey

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in stimulated
to give life, vigor, or spirit to he spiked what otherwise would have been a dry economic lecture with some jokes and anecdotes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spiked
Adjective
In the early years of the pandemic, COVID spiked in both the summer and winter, with the winter waves being far more deadly. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Flynn’s letter references recent movement among community leaders to address the downtown violence that’s spiked since late June, including two closed-door meetings to address the crime spike there in the past two weeks. — Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
This, after all, was one of several columns of mine that had been spiked at the Seattle Times. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 This has become especially helpful as tickets for the tournament have spiked, largely due to the resale market, which the Open can’t regulate like other Grand Slams. — Ben Ryder Howe, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spiked
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiked
  1. spiky
  2. stabbed
  3. stimulated
  4. barbed
  5. pierced
  6. stirred
  7. jagged
  8. punctured
Adjective
  • Still, even with the Justice Department approving the WBD merger late last week without any concessions, the Paramount Skydance’s CEO’s happy face masked some spikey obstacles to the merger from overseas and in state houses over Ellison’s strategic bear hug with the ex-Apprentice host.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 June 2026
  • This will be a bumper quarter for oil and gas shareholders, who have always learned to stick it out through the doldrums for spikey periods like this.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of spiky
Verb
  • Two people were stabbed, one fatally, near Times Square on Monday afternoon, with responding authorities shooting and killing the female suspect, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
  • One of the two people who was stabbed also died, while the other victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stabbed
Verb
  • Throughout Milo's healing, Haarburger sought ways to keep him entertained and mentally stimulated.
    — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • So the majority of product [is] stimulated by patient interaction, and the hero product has to be the Polish.
    — Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stimulated
Adjective
  • Up the other side of the ravine there is another fence, much like the first, but without the barbed wire.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Light tubes, chains, scaffolds, chairs and a barbed wire table all made an appearance.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of barbed
Verb
  • Her brown leather jacket was pierced with 60 stab wounds, and her throat had been slashed nearly ear to ear.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Investigators believe the bullet that pierced the restaurant window was fired from inside a passing vehicle on Vista Village Drive.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pierced
Verb
  • An ongoing police investigation in Philadelphia's Olney section has stirred rumors and concerns of a potential serial killer, but some key information is missing before that claim can be correct.
    — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The debate has stirred deep divisions among the public over whether she should be held criminally responsible for the January 2023 killings.
    — Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of stirred
Adjective
  • Ragged, jagged or fluffy edges point to a Bristol Type 6 stool, meaning waste moved through the colon too fast for water to be absorbed properly.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Nepal is a country of jagged, towering peaks with sheer slopes sweeping down to narrow valleys, cut through by powerful rivers.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of jagged
Verb
  • The solar panel that powers the camera was punctured and shattered.
    — Haley Parsley August 22, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The barrel had been punctured several times and dumped far offshore, Spencer said, but whoever discarded the remains likely never imagined the reservoir’s shoreline would one day retract hundreds of feet.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of punctured

Browse Nearby Words

spike
spiked
spikelike
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Cite this Entry

“Spiked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiked. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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