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

Noun

Following Guthrie's prying, Lopez eventually caved in with a concrete answer. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 2 June 2026 That was what led the princess to send her staff away and sneak the BBC crew in for the interview, isolating herself in the face of Bashir’s prying questions. — Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025

Verb

Its Duplicate Finder clears clutter, advanced renaming options make your files easy to track, and military-grade encryption protects everything from prying eyes. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026 That doesn’t mean robbing Billy of his shot at prying open Homelander’s skull, but with only a symbolic solution to Trump’s authoritarian rise — love conquers all! — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for prying

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying

Adjective

Over the course of the space’s renovation, Richards said the construction attracted several curious lookie-loos, many of whom knew of Corvino and were eager to see what would replace it.

— Jenna Thompson July 2, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Baffled rather than outraged, curious Kaho tries to uncover the meaning of his words.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of curious

Noun

Border officers have broad discretion, and retirees who spend lengthy periods in the country can face additional questioning.

— Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Justices posed various hypothetical questions throughout and, at times, got into tense lines of questioning while trying to understand the attorneys’ arguments and what previous cases reflect about this one.

— Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 30 June 2026

Definition of questioning

Verb

And often, data centers are pulling from municipal water supplies, Anisfeld said.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Haaland’s winning goal came after another bout of yanking and pulling; the striker tried to free himself by slapping the defender’s arm away, eventually just carrying on regardless.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of pulling

Verb

Now, with the federal and state government yanking back plenty of that funding and directly barring the city from enacting some of its more aggressive climate plans, Higgins is left with a narrow road to tread toward progress.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
The virtual oar-yanking celebration in a baseball atmosphere was one of those weird juxtapositions that seem to get fostered whenever a World Cup fanbase descends upon a host city.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of yanking

Verb

The pivotal match itself — the semifinal encounter against hosts Uruguay — is also more convincingly depicted and dramatic, particularly for how one of the goals is assisted by an interfering policeman (incredibly, this did actually happen).

— Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Other fans have targeted Chung Mong-gyu, the outgoing director of the Korean Football Association, who’s been accused of improperly interfering in the management of the national team.

— E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026

Definition of interfering

Adjective

If American music in 1976 represented a collective, inquisitive, inventive American spirit of discovery, the semiquincentennial in the age of social media has become more about the individual identity.

— Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Powell was one of scores of Taylor Swift fans and inquisitive passersby who braved the New York City heat Thursday to satiate their curiosity about what many are calling the wedding of the century and the American equivalent of royal nuptials.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of inquisitive

Adjective

Even Karp’s more intelligible arguments are quickly trampled over as additional intrusive thoughts took the wheel.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 July 2026
Before being diagnosed with OCD in the spring of 2024, Lederer had spent years believing many of her intrusive thoughts were uniquely hers.

— Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Definition of intrusive

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pry

prying

psalm

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Style

“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of prying

adjective

noun

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verb (2)

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