LISTENING IN (ON) Synonyms: 15 Similar Words

listening in (on)

verb

present participle of listen in (on)

as in eavesdropping (on)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for listening in (on)

Verb

Controlling and monitoring individual cells has also illuminated neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's and epilepsy.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026
The system is meant to give monitoring capabilities to prevent the agents from exceeding the authority they’ve been given.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of monitoring

Verb

The Supreme Court will open its new term Monday by hearing arguments on whether the oil and gas industry may be forced to pay damages for the scorching heat waves, wildfires and droughts that are blamed on climate change.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
The controller was having trouble hearing the pilots and asked them to repeat their messages, including altitude, several times, according to the audio.

— Anselm Gibbs, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of hearing

Verb

Meanwhile, Iran’s state TV said a man was executed after being convicted on charges of spying for Israel.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Soon after spying the hungry bird, the family watched in horror as the kite accidentally dropped the reptile right into their backyard, bringing an abrupt end to tea on the veranda.

— Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of spying

Verb

Digging a bit deeper, the study determined that while 57% of respondents would be creeped out by someone shoulder-surfing their screens, only 43% had a similar worry about people overhearing phone conversations.

— Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
We weren’t allowed to leave the room to prevent anyone from overhearing our conversations and perhaps posting [the questions] on the Internet.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of overhearing

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Browse Nearby Words

listening

listening in (on)

listening (to)

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“Listening in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listening%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of listening in (on)

verb

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