EN

Synonyms for pry

  • verb
  • noun

Most common

poke intrude quarry wring lever

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Poke

poke, nose, intrude, horn in slang

2. Wring — usually followed by out (of), to draw out or get (information, etc.) with effort

wring, quarry

3. Lever

lever, jimmy informal

Other

look, peep, search, peer

Noun

1. Crowbar

crowbar, wrecking bar

Other

prize US, prise UK, crow

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    Usually followed by out (of): to draw out or get (information, etc.) with effort.

  2. v. 2

    To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public.

  3. v. 3

    To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop.

    to pry into someone's affairs

  4. n. 1

    An act of prying; a close and curious look.

Related words

Word family
prying
Phrases
pry bar

Example sentences

  • poke I don't poke my nose into other people's business.
  • intrude I do not like anyone to intrude when I am working.
  • quarry The old quarry is now a popular swimming hole.
  • wring Wring those clothes well before you hang them up.
  • lever The handbrake lever was just behind the gearstick.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
pryrising
pokerising
intrudesteady
quarryfalling
wringrising
leverfalling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
look1, nose1, peer1, crow1, poke1, peep1
5 letters
prize1, jimmy2, lever2, wring1, prise
6 letters
search1, quarry2
7 letters
intrude2, crowbar2

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (jimmy2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
fureter
Deutsch
herumschnüffeln