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What is the antonym of 'eavesdrop'? |
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Answer
Well... I'm not sure there is an exact antonym. But you could express the opposite idea in a few ways.
If Betty is eavesdropping (intentionally trying to overhear something), then someone sitting beside her, say Janet, who was oblivious might not overhear anything, despite being in the same room and having ample opportunity, would be the opposite. So being "oblivious" could be a possible antonym.
"ignore" could be another, for much the same reason... you ignore others instead of granting them extra attention trying to hear their conversations.
You could say that someone was "deaf" to another's private conversation... expressing not literal deafness, but a voluntary sort of idea, choosing not to hear.
You could also say that someone left the room because she "had no desire to hear any part of that conversation." That would be antithetical to the idea of wanting to listen in and know what is going on.
Hope something in there helps. :)
First answer by Zanbabe. Last edit by Zanbabe. Contributor trust: 524 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 26 [recommend question]
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