peeping tom
Furtive window spy
A peeping tom is someone who secretly watches others, especially through windows, typically to see them undressing or in intimate situations.
The term comes from the legend of Lady Godiva, in which a tailor named Tom peeked at her naked ride through Coventry and was struck blind.
The neighbor turned out to be a peeping tom who'd been watching the apartment for months. (Capitalized Peeping Tom refers to the legendary figure.)
One who spies privately
- spyingSecretly observing others
- watchingActively looking at something
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
ogling · leering · prurience · peephole · keyhole · window · binoculars · hidden camera
Forcible entry into territory
- violationBreaking of rules
- breachBreaking of agreement
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
monitoring · unwanted · nonconsensual · boundaries · personal space · intimate · domestic · exposure
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- trespassingUnauthorized presence on property
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
offender · prowler · loitering · illegal · arrest · restraining order · conviction · prosecution
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- paraphiliaAtypical sexual interest disorder
- devianceDeparture from accepted standards
- disorderAbsence of organization
fetish · fixation · urge · pathology · dysfunction · therapy · treatment · recidivism
voyeur
One who spies privately
snooping · ogling · leering · prurience · peephole · keyhole · window · binoculars · hidden camera · covert
invasion
Forcible entry into territory
surveillance · monitoring · unwanted · nonconsensual · boundaries · personal space · intimate · domestic · exposure · victim
stalking
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- trespassingUnauthorized presence on property
- intrusionUnauthorized entry into space
predator · offender · prowler · loitering · illegal · arrest · restraining order · conviction · prosecution · sex crime
obsession
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- paraphiliaAtypical sexual interest disorder
- devianceDeparture from accepted standards
disorder · fetish · fixation · urge · pathology · dysfunction · therapy · treatment · recidivism · behavior
- watcherswatcher, birdwatchers, watchman, lookout, sports fans
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- investigatorsdetective, investigator, inspector, sleuth, gumshoe
- spectatorsviewer, watcher, onlooker, observer, audience
- troublemakerstroublemaker, rascals, delinquents, imps, brats
- bystandersbystander, onlooker, observer, spectator, watcher