eavesdrop
Secretly hear conversations
To eavesdrop is to listen secretly to a private conversation.
The word comes from the practice of standing under the eaves of a building—where rainwater drips—to overhear what's said inside.
I couldn't help eavesdropping on their argument.
The noun eavesdropper describes someone who habitually listens in.
Perceive sound attentively
- wiretapHidden listening device
- bugCrawling creature or defect
- interceptSeize en route
- earwigPincered nocturnal insect
conversation · dialogue · whisper · murmur · disclosure · confession · revelation · snippet
Intrusively curious
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- inquisitiveEager to learn more
- meddlesomeProne to interfering
intrusive · busybody · snoop · pry · gossipmonger · rubberneck · voyeuristic · peeping Tom
Ongoing observation of something
- wiretapHidden listening device
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- spywareHidden surveillance program
tracking · intelligence · reconnaissance · CCTV · recording · tapping · listening device · stakeout
Done secretly, avoiding detection
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- secretiveInclined to conceal
undetected · unobserved · hidden · concealed · incognito · undercover · shadowy · skulking
Covert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- operativeCovert field agent
- moleSubterranean insectivore
informant · infiltrate · counterintelligence · tradecraft · handler · asset · double agent · plant
listen
Perceive sound attentively
earwig · conversation · dialogue · whisper · murmur · disclosure · confession · revelation · snippet · exchange
nosy
Intrusively curious
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- inquisitiveEager to learn more
meddlesome · intrusive · busybody · snoop · pry · gossipmonger · rubberneck · voyeuristic · peeping Tom · keyhole
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
- wiretapHidden listening device
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
spyware · tracking · intelligence · reconnaissance · CCTV · recording · tapping · listening device · stakeout · electronic
surreptitious
Done secretly, avoiding detection
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
secretive · undetected · unobserved · hidden · concealed · incognito · undercover · shadowy · skulking · lurking
spy
Covert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- operativeCovert field agent
mole · informant · infiltrate · counterintelligence · tradecraft · handler · asset · double agent · plant · cloak-and-dagger
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
tittle-tattle · tattle · dirt · scoop · juicy · secrets · innuendo · leak · buzz · indiscreet
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- Hearing & Listeninghear, hearing, listen, sound, voice
- surveillancesurveillance, CCTV, security camera, surveillance camera, surveillance cameras
- soundssound, beeps, listen, sounds, hear
- detectiondetect, discover, find, identify, locate
- Gossip & Cluesgossip, rumor, hearsay, leak, buzz
- electronic eavesdroppingSecret technological surveillance
eavesdropping, eavesdropper, eavesdrops, eavesdropped, eavesdroppers