prying

adjective

pry·​ing ˈprī-iŋ 

: inquisitive in an annoying, officious, or meddlesome way

pryingly adverb

Synonyms of prying

• curious
• inquisitive

Choose the Right Synonym for prying

curious, inquisitive, prying mean interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern.

curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

Examples of prying in a Sentence

She tried to escape the prying eyes of her neighbors.

as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prying

• acidifying
• demystifying
• detoxifying
• disqualifying
• diversifying
• electrifying
• emulsifying
• exemplifying
• identifying
• indemnifying
• intensifying
• objectifying

Kids Definition

prying

adjective

pry·​ing

: given to asking about other people's affairs especially in an annoying or meddlesome way

pryingly

-iŋ-lē

adverb