pry Synonyms
Another word for pry
• verb (Context 1)
To inquire too closely, intrusively, or impertinently into another person's private affairs.
"I do not mean to snoop, but you have seemed unusually quiet all afternoon."
• verb (Context 2)
To raise, move, or force open something using a lever or mechanical force.
"We had to lever the lid off the old wooden crate with a screwdriver."
• verb (Context 3)
To extract or obtain information, a secret, or a concession from someone only with great difficulty or persistence.
"The journalist managed to wring a few details about the upcoming merger from the spokesperson."
• noun (Context 4)
A heavy bar or lever, such as a crowbar, used for raising, moving, or forcing open objects; the leverage applied with such a tool.
"The carpenter used an iron pry bar to lift the floorboards without splitting the old wood."
• noun (Context 5)
An excessively inquisitive or meddlesome person who intrudes into the private affairs of others.
"Our neighbor had a reputation as the neighborhood snoop who always watched from behind the curtains."
Opposites of pry
The opposite of pry shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: