What is another word for prying?

Pronunciation: [pɹˈa͡ɪɪŋ] (IPA)

Prying is the act of being nosy or intrusive, and it is often regarded as an undesirable trait. There are many synonyms that can be used to describe this behavior, including being curious, inquisitive, scrutinizing, meddlesome, intrusive, snoopy, nosey, and nosy-parker. These words all convey the same underlying meaning of being overly curious or intrusive, but they vary in terms of their connotation. Some of these words have a more negative connotation than others, such as being meddlesome or snoopy, while others are more neutral, like inquisitive or curious. Regardless of the word used, prying behavior is generally frowned upon and seen as rude or inappropriate.

Synonyms for Prying:

What are the paraphrases for Prying?

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What are the hypernyms for Prying?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the opposite words for prying?

The word "prying" refers to the act of being intrusive or nosy. Its antonyms include words such as "discreet," "respectful," and "courteous." These words describe someone who is considerate of others' boundaries and does not invade their privacy. Another antonym for "prying" is "avoiding," which means to keep a distance and not be too curious about others' personal affairs. "Unobtrusive," "reticent," and "withholding" are other words that have the opposite meaning of "prying." These antonyms are useful in describing situations where one wishes to convey a sense of respect and dignity towards others.

Usage examples for Prying

Some minutes were lost in gaining access to the rear roof through the house next on the west, and some minutes more in prying open a shutter and forcing a carefully locked sash.
"The Mermaid of Druid Lake and Other Stories"
Charles Weathers Bump
Just think, darling, no prying human eyes, no commands, no rules-only us for an hour or two.
"The Love of Frank Nineteen"
David Carpenter Knight
There's one thing I simply will not tolerate and that is prying into my private affairs.
"Command"
William McFee

Famous quotes with Prying

  • Mr. Speaker, Americans want, need, and rightfully expect Congress to protect them from the prying eyes of identity thieves and give them back control of their Social Security numbers and personal health information.
    Luis Gutierrez
  • Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.
    Zora Neale Hurston
  • Man, as the prying housemaid of the soul.
    William Empson
  • Ah, my friends, we must look out and around to see what God is like. It is when we persist in turning our eyes inward, and prying curiously over our own imperfections, that we learn to make God after our own image, and fancy that our own darkness and hardness of heart are the patterns of His light and love.
    Charles Kingsley
  • He rolled in his bed, twisting the sheets, grappling with a problem years too big for him, awake in the night like a single sentinel on picket. And sometime after midnight, he slept, too, and then only the wind was awake, prying at the hotel and hooting in its gables under the bright gimlet gaze of the stars.
    Stephen King

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