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

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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

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 But in the quietest corner of the 10-acre sanctuary, away from the public’s prying eyes, a cohort of most unusual occupants sleep. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Verb

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 The two have already had a few chats away from prying eyes and shared a few kisses. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 10 June 2026 Even remakes and adaptations of centuries-old novels are kept away from prying eyes, forgetting that everybody can look up the ending of every story ever told on Wikipedia. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 9 June 2026 Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US Navy is capable of prying open the Strait of Hormuz but that an extended military operation to free up the vital oil and gas waterway would be costly and require allies. — Jen Judson, Bloomberg, 8 June 2026 Without prying into your personal life, is the album a story of going from being single to not being single? — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying

Adjective

Whether Belmira intended it or not, the enjoyable exercise left me curious to experience more, and perhaps, one day, make it there myself.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
The morbidly curious Sperm Whale and Giant Squid Diorama is a startling depiction of one of nature’s most mysterious predator-prey relationships.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of curious

Adjective

Also handily located for the railway station and the busy East Coast line that runs from London to Scotland.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Once the couple can fit the celebration into their busy schedules, Reba alum Melissa Peterman is ready to make their wedding cake.

— Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of busy

Noun

Thorndike took issue with the positive description of McLean during Sprague's questioning of Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband Patrick.

— Matt Schooley, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
In the American West, where playing dress-up in reenactments and photo booths and even city streets is already so commonplace, this line of questioning is insidiously limited.

— Téa Obreht, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of questioning

Verb

The episode feinted toward genuine rapprochement before yanking the rug out, leaving the Gang pelted with an industrial-grade indoor blizzard and then happily chucking rocks at passing trains, as was Mac and Charlie’s childhood tradition.

— Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
The tentacular Scylla is seen briefly but makes an impact, yanking sailors off Odysseus’s ship in a series of loud jump scares.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 July 2026

Definition of yanking

Adjective

Three habits in particular tend to be read as intrusive while actually reflecting more demanding cognitive work than the socially appropriate alternative.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Still, a moving camera can feel more intrusive than one mounted on a wall.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of intrusive

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prying

psalm

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“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of prying

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verb (2)

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