eavesdropping (on)

verb

Definition of eavesdropping (on)next
present participle of eavesdrop (on)
as in listening in (on)
to listen to (another in private conversation) a nosy traveler who likes to eavesdrop on his fellow airline passengers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eavesdropping (on)
  1. monitoring
  2. spying
  3. hearing
Verb
  • Other public health professionals, legislators and attorneys general — including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul — have joined in urging the agency to undertake microplastics monitoring nationwide.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • One person might have multiple agents continuously monitoring rates, researching products or evaluating alternatives.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of monitoring
Verb
  • The actress provided the voice of a technologically advanced, data-spying smart refrigerator.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • To support their request to detain Alfozan, the government pointed to a case where former Twitter employees were charged with spying for the Saudi government.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of spying
Verb
  • Yes, the Gamecocks are certainly playing with a much bigger chip on their shoulder after hearing the naysayers rightfully create enough noise across the country to be heard in Columbia.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 Oct. 2026
  • In her first sketch, Navarrette and Hernandez played the ghost of a couple of 1930s kids on the Queen Mary who keep distracting a tourist from hearing where another ghost’s treasure is hidden.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of hearing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

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eavesdropping (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Eavesdropping (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eavesdropping%20%28on%29. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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