PRYING Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'prying' contrast with its synonyms?

The words curious and inquisitive are common synonyms of prying . While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," prying implies busy meddling and officiousness. // prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

Q: When is it sensible to use 'curious' instead of 'prying'?

While in some cases nearly identical to prying , curious , a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know. // children are curious about everything

Q: When is 'inquisitive' a more appropriate choice than 'prying'?

The words inquisitive and prying are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing. // dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

prying 1 of 4

adjective

ˈprī-iŋ

Definition of prying

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

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

prying

2 of 4

noun

as in questioning

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

prying

3 of 4

verb (1)

present participle of pry

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

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

prying

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of pry

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prying contrast with its synonyms?

The words curious and inquisitive are common synonyms of prying. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

When is it sensible to use curious instead of prying?

While in some cases nearly identical to prying, curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

When is inquisitive a more appropriate choice than prying?

The words inquisitive and prying are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

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

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. — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 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. — Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 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

Noun

The guests themselves remained enshrouded in secrecy as black cars were seen driving into a large white tent, with the entrance set off by black curtains, shielding attendees from nearby prying eyes. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, celebrities opting for real-life mountain living include Tom Cruise with his staggering 298-acre mountain estate, as well as Oprah Winfrey, who both chose Telluride, Colorado to build in, live in and escape prying paparazzi. — Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Part of the Democratic disagreement comes from just how much attention to pay to media outlets’ prying, versus the power of the message. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 The bathroom is encased with polycarbonate walls to let in light but keep out prying eyes. — Clio Chang, Curbed, 30 June 2026 It’s often viewed as a dumping ground for human refuse — out of sight, out of mind — and it is structured to prevent prying eyes. — Gerard S. Williams, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2026 Following Guthrie's prying, Lopez eventually caved in with a concrete answer. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 2 June 2026 With that said, the game has managed to rack up an impressive five million sales in under a month, developing a dedicated fanbase that's been probing and prying at the game's engine, with delightful and sometimes unexpected results. — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2026 Palm Springs Has Still Got It This desert enclave has long been many things at once—a spa town, a sanctuary away from Hollywood's prying eyes, a design capital, a shoo-in for winter sun. — Jason Sheeler, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026

Verb

Spanning 42 feet long and more than 14 feet wide, the observatory is designed to explore the outer solar system and beyond – prying into previously unobservable areas of the universe to study dark energy and search for exoplanets. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 This is an uncomplicated yarn about a man prying open his heart and nudging other hard nuts to do the same. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 That truce, born from the scars of Europe’s bloody religious wars and America’s own colonial theocracies, was deemed unbreakable, but Falwell was making inroads toward prying it apart. — Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 With other phones, even something simple like replacing an aging battery often requires melting adhesive, prying apart fragile glass panels, and decoupling cables. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 Netflis is keeping the logline a hop, skip and a jump from prying eyes but it is known to be a mother-daughter story involving teleportation. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026 This $10 option comes with three privacy glass screen protectors that will shield your screen from damage and prying eyes at the same time. — Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026 Miller has entered the conversation for most dominant closer ever, and multiple contenders are interested in prying him away from a middling team. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 27 July 2026 Not with these linen panels that Malek Barney recommends—the thicker fabric strikes that Goldilocks balance between privacy and natural light, letting sunlight gently filter through while still shielding your space from prying eyes. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 22 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying

Adjective

Hey there, Matt, curious how has Deebo been looking the past few days?

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
In homes with curious cats, avoiding high-risk plants entirely is the safest option.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of curious

Adjective

Then, the Iran war started, resulting in massive disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, once one of the world's busiest oil-shipping lanes.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Palacios brings plenty to Ipswich with and without the ball, the statement signing in a busy window who could go a long way to keeping them up.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of busy

Noun

Stern placed the disagreement over the bill within a broader, historical Jewish practice of debate and questioning.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Nonprofit boards offer an excellent starting point, providing opportunities to develop crucial governance skills like strategic thinking, accountability, and constructive questioning.

— Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of questioning

Verb

Why TikTok livestream selling can drive big sales Three forces are pulling sellers toward livestream commerce, and Duplantis’s numbers reflect all of them.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
Wildfire risk is pushing insurers to underwrite hotels based on physical resilience rather than location alone, and carriers are pulling back from some markets entirely.

— Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of pulling

Verb

Video shows teams of workers yanking ropes to ferry locals who were stranded on an embankment flanked by a flooded river.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
An Arkansas State Police trooper was captured on dashcam footage yanking the passenger of a vehicle by his hair and punching him in the face after a high-speed chase that ended in the streets of Blytheville.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of yanking

Verb

Under the law, federal officers are prohibited from interfering in elections.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026
However, according to the report, violence is increasing in museum thefts, with thieves using instruments such as dynamite, guns, and sledgehammers to gain access to treasures and deter employees from interfering.

— News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of interfering

Adjective

Bindi, a young female wallaby, is inquisitive and extremely curious, while Wally, a young male wallaby, is more cautious and likes to look at things from afar, Borozenets said.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Paige is energetic, determined, and inquisitive where Kevin is defeatist, sad, and zhlubby.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of inquisitive

Adjective

The flight attendant was attentive without being intrusive, handling meal service and smaller requests in an efficient but friendly manner that made the overnight crossing feel personalized rather than just riding in a comfortable space.

— Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Medvedev, 30, is having the kind of season that might drive a player toward intrusive, existential thoughts — even before considering the fact that he is predisposed to them like few sports stars are.

— James Hansen, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of intrusive

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pry

prying

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Style

“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of prying

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