prying

[prahy-ing]

adjective

1. that pries; looking or searching curiously.

2. impertinently or unnecessarily curious or inquisitive.

   Synonyms: nosy

Other Word Forms

• pryingly adverb
• pryingness noun
• unprying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prying¹

First recorded in 1950–55; pry ¹ + -ing ²

Synonym Study

See curious.

Example Sentences

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network: it creates a secure private tunnel over public networks, like the internet, which can shield your online activity from prying eyes.

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The property—which appears somewhat unassuming from the outside—also offers ample privacy thanks to the trees that surround it on three sides, creating a natural barrier from prying eyes.

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Canned answers to prying questions about career mistakes and bumps in our personal lives must be at the ready the moment the festivities begin.

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The first test, in Barcelona on 26-30 January, is behind closed doors because the teams wanted to get their heads around their first running of the new engines without the prying eyes of the media.

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The banking secrecy laws, now much diluted, were designed to shield an individual's personal finances from the prying eyes of the state.

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