nosiness
Unwelcome personal interest
Nosiness is the quality of being too curious about other people's affairs.
A nosy person pries into matters that don't concern them—asking intrusive questions, reading others' mail, eavesdropping on conversations.
Her nosiness about the neighbors was legendary.
The word carries mild disapproval but stops short of serious accusation.
Intrusively inquisitive
- meddlingIntrusive interference in others' concerns
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
overstepping · interference · boundary-crossing · uninvited · imposition · encroachment · unwelcome · intrusiveness
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- tattleReveal another's wrongdoing
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- busybodyIntrusive meddler
gossipmonger · meddler · chatter · whisper · innuendo · speculation · dirt · busybodying
Secretly observing others
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- wiretappingCovert phone surveillance
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
tailing · shadowing · watching · peeping · snooping · espionage · reconnaissance · intercepting
prying
Intrusively inquisitive
- meddlingIntrusive interference in others' concerns
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
eavesdropping · overstepping · interference · boundary-crossing · uninvited · imposition · encroachment · unwelcome · intrusiveness · presumptuousness
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- tattleReveal another's wrongdoing
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
busybody · gossipmonger · meddler · chatter · whisper · innuendo · speculation · dirt · busybodying · yenta
spying
Secretly observing others
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- wiretappingCovert phone surveillance
bugging · tailing · shadowing · watching · peeping · snooping · espionage · reconnaissance · intercepting · tracking
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- pet peevesannoyance, loud chewing, irritation, loud talking, frustration
- bad mannersrudeness, impoliteness, discourtesy, incivility, disrespect
- curiosityinquisitiveness, wonder, questioning, inquiry, interest
- flawsfaults, defect, flaw, blemish, flaws
- violationsviolation, infractions, infraction, breach, consent violation
nosinessincuriosity
Absence of inquisitiveness
incuriousness · indifference · apathy · disinterest · unconcern
nosinessdiscretion
Careful judgment in speech
tactfulness · reserve · tact · respectfulness · restraint
nose, nosy, nosedive, noses, nosier, nosedives, nosedived, nosediving, nosiest