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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in yanking
to draw out by force or with effort
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
don't go prying into other people's business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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
-
Writing for The New York Times, Alex Marshall tells the curious story of his encounter with a certain Barry Joule, who claims to have a trove of sketches and paintings given to him by Francis Bacon not long before his death.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
ARTnews.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
But a curious pattern is emerging among the fringe-ocrats who are coming into power.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Beyoncé Was Painted Gold To Promote Her Cé Lumière Fragrance Beyoncé has had a busy month.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Understand Barcelona Cruise Port Barcelona’s cruise terminal is one of the busiest in the world, serving as a major gateway for Mediterranean itineraries.—
David Nikel,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Organizations must actively foster environments where questioning is encouraged, exploration is rewarded, and learning is continuous.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
That odd exchange was followed by sharp questioning from Council Member Lincoln Restler over Holmes’ broader record and the contents of a Daily News article published Friday about the large-scale turnover throughout the agency and several hiring decisions.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Fried made a similar first impression on Aaron Boone, Matt Blake and the Yankees’ front office over the offseason, exciting them with his inquisitive nature during a free agency Zoom call.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The dogs, which thrust inquisitive muzzles into the impressions, apparently could derive no lingering whiff of lion odor from the tracks.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The genre of true crime comes in for interrogation in both Predators, from director David Osit, and Zodiac Killer Project, directed by Charlie Shackleton.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Former President Barack Obama, for example, ended the C.I.A. interrogation program started under former President George W. Bush but did not fire the officers accused of torturing Al Qaeda prisoners.—
Seamus Hughes,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Child Safeguarding & Ethical Standards The letters of complaint disregard core safeguarding principles by demanding intrusive scrutiny of Abdullah’s background.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Lower Learning Curve Learning to use AI is significantly easier, less intimidating and less intrusive when employees are already familiar with the tasks.—
Hunter Steele,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Netanyahu has resisted forming a commission of inquiry.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Despite public pressure, including from the families of the roughly 1,200 people killed in the Oct. 7 attack and the 251 taken as hostages into Gaza, Netanyahu has resisted calls for a commission of inquiry.—
MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH, WAFAA SHURAFA, NATALIE MELZER AND TIA GOLDENBERG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
From the outside looking in, nosy folks sight couples who scored a seat on the river-facing side—and in real time, perhaps, all falling more in love with each other.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Dec. 2024
-
At times, the conversation might widen even further to one nosy tía’s opinions about the bodies of celebrities she’s never met.—
Ella Cerón,
Allure,
6 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share