1
as in curious
interested in what is not one's own business
as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in questioning
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulling
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever
it took some effort to pry up the trap door
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2
as in yanking
to draw out by force or with effort
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
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as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
don't go prying into other people's business
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prying
Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Adjective
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying
Adjective
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Next, encourage team members to be curious about different perspectives, dive into data and stories, consider multiple categories of the problem, and clarify the objectives.—
Chris Williams,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Chargers' Jim Harbaugh gives his thoughts on controversial 'tush push' The veteran head coach currently views the Philadelphia Eagles' famed play as simply football, but is curious to see how a rule change vote goes on it.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Mission Beach tower is the busiest in the entire city, and the beach’s popularity with tourists makes emergencies more likely there.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
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After two years of busy construction, John and Mable had completed their 56-room Mediterranean Revival masterpiece in 1926, at a time when no homes of such scope existed in Sarasota.—
Thao Thai,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Well, there’s a reason for that line of questioning.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2025
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This line of questioning became an issue causing fear for Petrova, who was previously detained in Russia for anti-war protests shortly after the attack on Ukraine, Romanovsky claims.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The list of such matters Dolan has shown a resistance to, or been inquisitive about, has grown long.—
Mike Vorkunov,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The ensuing conversations are inquisitive, and don’t feature too much overt tension, but all the while, Hong plants the seeds for his signature third-act outbursts over dinner and drinks.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In addition to subjecting them to electric shocks for interrogations, guards would force prisoners to stand in uncomfortable positions and then hit them in the genitals or knock them to the ground, according to Shyshko.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2025
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Some insurers now require departments to adopt early warning systems, improve interrogation protocols, or demonstrate compliance with best practices as a condition of coverage.—
Michelle Mbekeani,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Vizio TVs reportedly show Trump immigration messaging when in standby An experience recently shared by an apparent Vizio TV owner illustrates how ads delivered via TV operating systems (OSes) can take ads from annoying to intrusive and offensive.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 Apr. 2025
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In some cases, the impact of technology on intimacy is even more intrusive.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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When researchers across disciplines rely on the same AI systems for experimental design, the diversity of scientific inquiry—a cornerstone of innovation—could diminish.—
Josipa Majic Predin,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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In late 2023, Lago filed a defamation lawsuit against the Spanish-language radio station Actualidad for a segment about an ethics inquiry.—
Tess Riski,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The unsecured Signal group chat may have violated the law and Department of Defense regulations, including a warning a week earlier about security vulnerabilities in the Signal app that were being targeted by nosy Russian hacking groups.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
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Geminis are often very funny and intelligent, which is why Clark Green also exemplifies the traits of the sign, including being a nosy coworker.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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