Prying: meaning, definitions and examples
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prying
[ praɪɪŋ ]
suspicious
Excessively interested in a person's private affairs; too inquisitive.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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prying |
Used to describe someone who is trying to find out private details about someone's life in a somewhat negative way.
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meddlesome |
Often used to describe someone who interferes in other people's affairs in an annoying or unwanted way. It has a slightly stronger negative connotation.
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nosy |
Commonly used in informal settings to describe someone who is overly curious about other people's business. It is usually negative but sometimes used in a playful way.
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intrusive |
Typically used in formal or semi-formal settings to describe something that disrupts someone's privacy or personal space in an unwelcome way.
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Examples of usage
- She was always prying into other people's business.
- Stop prying into my personal life!
trying to find out something private
Intrusively curious about a person's private affairs.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
prying |
Used when describing someone who is intrusively curious about people's private matters, often with a negative connotation.
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peep |
Used to describe a quick or secret look, often through a small opening or from a hidden position. It often has a playful or innocent tone.
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spy |
Often used to describe someone who secretly watches or gathers information, sometimes for official or governmental purposes, but can also be used in more general, suspicious scenarios.
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Examples of usage
- She was prying into his past.
- He kept prying for information about her family.
Translations
Translations of the word "prying" in other languages:
🇵🇹 intrometido
🇮🇳 टोह लेने वाला (ṭoh lene vālā)
🇩🇪 neugierig
🇮🇩 ingin tahu
🇺🇦 допитливий
🇵🇱 wścibski
🇯🇵 詮索好き (sensaku-zuki)
🇫🇷 curieux
🇪🇸 curioso
🇹🇷 meraklı
🇰🇷 참견하는 (chamgyeonhaneun)
🇸🇦 فضولي (fuḍūlī)
🇨🇿 zvědavý
🇸🇰 zvedavý
🇨🇳 好奇 (hàoqí)
🇸🇮 radoveden
🇮🇸 forvitinn
🇰🇿 қызыққұмар (qyzıqqumar)
🇬🇪 ცნობისმოყვარე (tsnobismots'q'vare)
🇦🇿 maraq göstərən
🇲🇽 curioso
Etymology
The word 'prying' originated from the Middle English word 'pryen', meaning to peer or inquire. Over time, it evolved to its current usage in English, describing someone who is excessively interested in others' private affairs. The negative connotation of prying reflects the social norms of privacy and respect for personal boundaries.
See also: pry.