eavesdropping
Covert auditory surveillance
Eavesdropping is secretly listening to private conversations.
The word comes from the practice of standing under the eaves of a house to hear what's said inside.
Now it applies to any covert listening—through walls, on phone calls, or via electronic surveillance: The NSA's eavesdropping programs sparked controversy.
To eavesdrop is to engage in such listening: I couldn't help eavesdropping on their argument.
Occurring by chance
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
- inadvertentDone without intention
- overheardUnintentionally listened to
conversation · whisper · auditory · catching · unnoticed · chance · wall · doorway
Ongoing observation of something
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- spyingSecretly observing others
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- tappingRepeated light striking
NSA · Stasi · intelligence · counterintelligence · reconnaissance · stakeout · shadowing · carnivore
Intrusively inquisitive
- nosinessHabit of prying
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- earwiggingListening to others' conversations
- inquisitivenessEager desire to learn
curiosity · nosy · meddling · intrusive · busybody · peeping · voyeurism · spying
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
hidden · undercover · cloak-and-dagger · undetected · unobserved · unseen · concealed · sneaky
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
secrets · chatter · dirt · scoop · leak · buzz · indiscretion · overheard
Secret intelligence gatherers
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- informantOne who provides intelligence
- operativeCovert field agent
agent · mole · sleuth · counterspy · tradecraft · debriefing · handler · asset
Unauthorized entry into space
- violationBreaking of rules
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- GDPREU data protection law
breach · unauthorized · private · personal · boundaries · invasion · legal · expectation
accidental
Occurring by chance
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
- inadvertentDone without intention
overheard · conversation · whisper · auditory · catching · unnoticed · chance · wall · doorway · keyhole
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- spyingSecretly observing others
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
tapping · NSA · Stasi · intelligence · counterintelligence · reconnaissance · stakeout · shadowing · carnivore · SIGINT
prying
Intrusively inquisitive
- nosinessHabit of prying
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- earwiggingListening to others' conversations
inquisitiveness · curiosity · nosy · meddling · intrusive · busybody · peeping · voyeurism · spying
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- furtiveSecretive and sly
stealthy · hidden · undercover · cloak-and-dagger · undetected · unobserved · unseen · concealed · sneaky · secretive
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
tittle-tattle · secrets · chatter · dirt · scoop · leak · buzz · indiscretion · overheard · juicy
spies
Secret intelligence gatherers
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- informantOne who provides intelligence
operative · agent · mole · sleuth · counterspy · tradecraft · debriefing · handler · asset
intrusion
Unauthorized entry into space
- violationBreaking of rules
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- consentVoluntary agreement given
GDPR · breach · unauthorized · private · personal · boundaries · invasion · legal · expectation
- cyber threatsmalware, phishing, hacking, virus, ransomware
- farceslapstick, pratfall, mistaken identity, pratfalls, buffoonery
- Security Attackshacking, intrusion, phishing, spoofing, brute force
- surveillance lawFISA, phone tap, electronic surveillance, intercept, Patriot Act
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
eavesdroppingpublic discourse
Open societal conversation
broadcasting · public announcement · direct address · announcement · public speaking
eavesdroppingignoring
Deliberately not noticing
tuning out · disregarding · ignore · not listening · turning a deaf ear
- electronic eavesdroppingSecret technological surveillance
drop, dropped, drops, listening, dropping, eavesdrop, bugging, eaves, dropper