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.

An American diplomat and his Chinese counterpart pried the combatants apart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

In most cases the “mummy portraits”—as the paintings are called—came to be pried or detached from the full mummy by excavators, archaeologists or thieves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

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

From Slate • May 12, 2025

In her essay, Jay gets candid about having “a window into her life pried open” for the public — and her therapy patients — to see.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2024

“Sure,” Lester said as he pried the nail loose and handed little Willy the poster.

From "Stone Fox" by John Reynolds Gardiner