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Definitions

pry

[prahy] / praɪ /
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.

Whoever is given the job of informing him of that had better take a handful of sedatives and a crowbar to pry the president off the wall of the Oval Office.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Perez’s case is one of several in which the Civilian Oversight Commission has tried unsuccessfully to pry records out of the Sheriff’s Department.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

We asked some parenting experts for their tips on how to pry those phones away from their offspring's hands – even if only for a short while.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

France, the U.K. and the Soviet Union worked together in mine-sweeping operations to pry the chokepoint open.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

Booth tried to pry the lock from its mountings.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Vocabulary lists containing pry

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney

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Holes

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List 14

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