pried

VERB

interfere in someone else's business

Synonyms

STRONGEST

poke

STRONG

bug gape gaze hunt inquire intrude investigate meddle nose peek peep peer ransack reconnoiter rubberneck search snoop spy stare tap wiretap

WEAK

be a busybody be all ears be curious be inquisitive be nosy ferret out listen in poke nose into tune in on

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore neglect

WEAK

close leave alone

VERB

force or break open

Synonyms

STRONGEST

extract pull wrest

STRONG

disengage disjoin divide elevate elicit extort heave hoist jimmy lever lift move press prize push raise rear separate tear tilt turn twist uplift upraise wring

WEAK

pick up take up turn out uprear

Antonyms

STRONG

abandon attach combine connect decrease demote depress destroy discourage dissuade drop fall fix hide join keep lessen lower neglect repress stop straighten suppress unite untwist

WEAK

close leave alone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was precisely the formula that Cohen envisioned when he finally pried Stearns out of Milwaukee: the creativity and ingenuity of Moneyball, only with actual money at their disposal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

The other way is when those journals are pried from their hands.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Gilbert’s book has pried open a feminist door that felt long slammed shut.

From Slate • May 12, 2025

The shifting balance of power between these aesthetic worldviews encapsulates the story of what happened when Japan was pried open to Western influences.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2024

He pried the boards from the window and carefully put them away in the house.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell