espionage
Covert information gathering
Espionage is the practice of spying—gathering secret information about a government, organization, or competitor through covert means.
The word usually implies state-level intelligence operations: Cold War espionage, industrial espionage.
An espionage agent works undercover; an espionage ring is a network of spies.
He was convicted of espionage and sentenced to life in prison.
Covert information gatherer
- agentOne who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- informantOne who provides intelligence
handler · asset · defector · double agent · sleeper agent · case officer · station chief · courier
Concealed from authorities
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- incognitoWith identity concealed
shadowy · hidden · furtive · surreptitious · concealment · cover · legend · alias
Secretly listening to others
- wiretapHidden listening device
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- codebreakingSolving secret communications
decryption · encryption · cipher · dead drop · microdot · brush pass · handler · asset
U.S. foreign intelligence service
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
subterfuge · manipulation · scheming · plotting · duplicity · collusion · machination · cloak-and-dagger
Deliberate disruption of operations
- subversionUndermining established authority
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- propagandaBiased information for influence
psychological operations · covert action · regime change · assassination · destabilization · cyberwarfare · information warfare · fifth column
spy
Covert information gatherer
informant · handler · asset · defector · double agent · sleeper agent · case officer · station chief · courier · saboteur
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
incognito · shadowy · hidden · furtive · surreptitious · concealment · cover · legend · alias · dead drop
eavesdropping
Secretly listening to others
- wiretapHidden listening device
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
codebreaking · decryption · encryption · cipher · dead drop · microdot · brush pass · handler · asset · mole
CIA
U.S. foreign intelligence service
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
double-dealing · subterfuge · manipulation · scheming · plotting · duplicity · collusion · machination · cloak-and-dagger · disinformation
sabotage
Deliberate disruption of operations
- subversionUndermining established authority
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
propaganda · psychological operations · covert action · regime change · assassination · destabilization · cyberwarfare · information warfare · fifth column · resistance
- book genresfiction, novels, nonfiction, mystery, thriller
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- secrecy in literaturemystery, secrets, spy novels, thriller, whodunit
- spy thrillerdouble agents, covert ops, classified, code names, safe house
- thriller elementstwists, suspense, tension, anticipation, cliffhanger
- John le CarréKarla, cold war, MI6, double agents, moles
espionagetransparency
State of being see-through
public disclosure · openness · candor · diplomacy · freedom of information
espionagecounterintelligence
Defense against enemy espionage
counter-espionage · counterespionage · counter intelligence · antiespionage · security
espionagediplomatic exchange
Formal communication between governments
treaty negotiation · scientific cooperation · trade agreements · cultural exchange
- corporate espionageTheft of proprietary business information
- industrial espionageStealing business secrets covertly
- cyber espionageComputer-based intelligence gathering
- espionage thrillersStories about intelligence agents
- espionage novelsStories about secret agents
- espionage agentCovert intelligence operative