spying
Secret information gathering
Spying is the act of secretly gathering information, especially about enemies, competitors, or governments.
The word covers everything from intelligence operatives working abroad to children peeking at hidden birthday presents.
She caught him spying on the neighbors.
Corporate spying targets trade secrets; espionage is the formal term for state-level spying.
Covert phone surveillance
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- tappingRepeated light striking
- interceptingCatching en route
monitoring · tracking · NSA · Stasi · SIGINT · HUMINT · reconnaissance · drone
U.S. foreign intelligence service
- KGBUSSR intelligence service
- MI6UK espionage agency
- MossadIsraeli espionage service
- moleSubterranean insectivore
handler · operative · asset · counterintelligence · defector · tradecraft · dead-drop · exfiltration
Unauthorized entry into space
- voyeurismErotic observation without consent
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- peepingLooking through cracks
stalking · paparazzi · hacking · doxxing · confidentiality · GDPR · cookies · tracking
Secret, undetected movement
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- furtiveSecretive and sly
disguise · incognito · concealment · camouflage · hidden · shadowy · sneaking · veiled
Suspense-driven narrative genre
- noirHard-boiled film genre
- whodunitCrime fiction identifying perpetrator
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- sleuthPrivate investigator
mystery · assassin · gadgets · villain · dossier · microfilm · cipher · codebook
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
double-dealing · treachery · collusion · machination · backstabbing · skulduggery · manipulation · complicity
wiretapping
Covert phone surveillance
- buggingSecretly recording conversations
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
- tappingRepeated light striking
intercepting · monitoring · tracking · NSA · Stasi · SIGINT · HUMINT · reconnaissance · drone · satellite
CIA
U.S. foreign intelligence service
mole · handler · operative · asset · counterintelligence · defector · tradecraft · dead-drop · exfiltration · honeytrap
intrusion
Unauthorized entry into space
- voyeurismErotic observation without consent
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
peeping · stalking · paparazzi · hacking · doxxing · confidentiality · GDPR · cookies · tracking · profiling
stealth
Secret, undetected movement
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- secretiveInclined to conceal
furtive · disguise · incognito · concealment · camouflage · hidden · shadowy · sneaking · veiled · cryptic
thriller
Suspense-driven narrative genre
- noirHard-boiled film genre
- whodunitCrime fiction identifying perpetrator
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
sleuth · mystery · assassin · gadgets · villain · dossier · microfilm · cipher · codebook · rendezvous
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
deception · double-dealing · treachery · collusion · machination · backstabbing · skulduggery · manipulation · complicity · web
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
- eavesdroppingoverhearing, covert surveillance, overheard conversation
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- covert activitiessneaking, eavesdropping, snooping, hiding, lurking
- military offensesdesertion, insubordination, mutiny, AWOL, absence without leave
- national securityCIA, FBI, NSA, Pentagon, DHS
spyingtransparency
State of being see-through
public scrutiny · candor · forthrightness · openness · auditing
spyingcounterespionage
Blocking enemy surveillance efforts
counterspying · counterintelligence · antispying · security · counter-surveillance
spyingdisclosing
Making information known
revealing · whistleblowing · leaking · exposing · publishing
- corporate spyingCovert business intelligence theft
- domestic spyingMonitoring citizens covertly
- neighbor spying
- NSA spyingCovert government wiretapping