pry 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of prynext
1
as in to pull
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to yank
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

pry

2 of 2

verb (2)

ˈprī How to pronounce pry (audio)
as in to interfere
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pry
  1. pull
  2. yank
  3. interfere
  4. lift
  5. extract
  6. poke
  7. pluck
  8. mess
Verb
  • One of the resources pulled was the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool, which was designed to capture information on cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, according to the outlet.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Moreno had previously put the club up for sale in August 2022 before pulling the team off the market five months later.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • The trooper grabs the man by his wrist and his dreadlocks and began yanking his upper body through the window, the video shows.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As the man was unconscious, Slawson was accused of yanking the suspect out of the police vehicle, causing the man to hit and split his head on the concrete, the press release stated.
    — Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • Under the law, federal officers are prohibited from interfering in elections.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Collectively, these could interfere enough with normal processes to kill the cell.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of interfere
Verb
  • But the flood of money is also lifting stocks in tech, infrastructure, energy, and construction, delivering gains across generations.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Latest drone footage from CCTV shows rescue workers using lifting equipment in an attempt to restore and rebuild a road by the turbulent currents and in between the towering mountains.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Huge investments are needed to extract the rich resources in Venezuela, whose oil output remains at a fraction of its capacity due to decades of mismanagement, lack of investment and sanctions.
    — Anniek Bao,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Hyosung’s Bio-BDO is manufactured by fermenting sugars extracted from sugarcane.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of extract
Verb
  • Polymarket dropped him like a hot potato, though, once the CFTC began poking into his suspicious Kalshi bets.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Seething at his dad for poking at his body insecurities, the comedian dealt with his emotions like any good millennial — by podcasting about it.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • The Muir swivel chair in oxblood velvet feels plucked out of a Hollywood Regency–style boutique hotel lobby.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Even in high school, Lane could effortlessly pluck a ball out of the air with either hand.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • Here’s how to bring flowers from your cutting garden indoors while keeping insects and mess out.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The only way to mess this up is to not allow yourself the opportunity to touch it again and again and again.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Definition of mess
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

prurient
pry
prying
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Cite this Entry

“Pry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pry. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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