LISTENED IN (ON) Synonyms: 15 Similar Words

listened in (on)

verb

past tense of listen in (on)

as in eavesdropped (on)

to listen to (another in private conversation) it's not polite to listen in on other people's private conversations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for listened in (on)

Verb

Explosions could be heard as the munitions detonated during the fire, forcing firefighters to stay out of the area for safety.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
The ship’s captain has pleaded not guilty to charges including criminal damage in a case set to be heard early next year in Hong Kong, where the company is registered.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of heard

Verb

Jackson said California's law about confidential communication doesn't apply when there is a reasonable expectation that a conversation could be overheard or recorded.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
One of the first people to join his congregation was Gayana Albayan, who had learned about God through inference and overheard prayer.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026

Definition of overheard

Verb

In the distance, the two ― both staffers of nondenominational Christian organization Cru ― spied a female avatar standing alone in the virtual hallway and decided to strike up a chat.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 26 July 2026
On one wall, the researchers spied what first appeared to be patches of dirt or debris on a mural; further scrutiny showed these were actually thin scraps of plaster that were inscribed with strange markings.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 July 2026

Definition of spied

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

listened

listened in (on)

listened (to)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Listened in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listened%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of listened in (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

circumscribe

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes