LISTENS IN (ON) Synonyms: 14 Similar Words

listens in (on)

verb

present tense third-person singular of listen in (on)

as in eavesdrops (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 listens in (on)

Verb

Leaders, therefore, need clarity about who owns the technology and data, who controls access, who monitors risk and who has authority to make consequential decisions.

— Chandini Sheeba, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Amazon said its threat intelligence team had detected attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities before they were publicly disclosed, using its MadPot threat detection system, which monitors suspicious activity across internet-facing infrastructure.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of monitors

Verb

Deadline hears that the BBC has held tentative discussions about whether Sounds could be folded in with iPlayer to create a single streaming service for video and audio, not unlike Netflix and YouTube.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026
Her 7-year-old hears the conversations around her, sees the protests in her community and notices the visiting canal personnel.

— Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hears

Verb

One morning at school, Frida spies bruises on Elia’s back and overhears her and Emmanuel talking about having been disciplined by their parents.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
Late one night, Clark spies what appears to be a sliver of light coming through a crack in the wall of the store’s basement.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2026

Definition of spies

Verb

The pair gets into their first major relationship discussion when Sarah overhears John getting frustrated with a customer-service person from his electric company.

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
One morning at school, Frida spies bruises on Elia’s back and overhears her and Emmanuel talking about having been disciplined by their parents.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of overhears

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

listens

listens in (on)

listens (to)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Listens in (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/listens%20in%20%28on%29. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of listens in (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes