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pryingly

pryingly

8.9
In a way that shows too much interest in other people's private things
  • adverb
  • /ˈpraɪɪŋli/
translation icon : de manera entrometida
  • She glanced pryingly at the contents of his bag when he wasn't looking.

Examples

  • Stop looking at me pryingly!

  • He asked pryingly about her financial situation, making her uncomfortable.

  • The neighbors listened pryingly to their conversation through the open window.

  • Why do you always ask such pryingly personal questions?

  • She pryingly asked about my relationship with my family, making me uncomfortable.

  • He always makes pryingly comments about my life choices, which I find annoying.

  • I could tell she was pryingly trying to gather personal information about me.

Synonyms

inquiringly
vspryingly
1 4.7

In a curious way that shows a wish to know more

is more intrusive and targets others' private matters
inquisitively
vspryingly
1 4.5

Showing curiosity and wanting to learn more

is more intrusive and focused on others' private affairs
intrusively
vspryingly
1 6.4

Acting in a way that invades someone's privacy and makes them uncomfortable

is driven by excessive curiosity about others' private affairs
officiously
vspryingly
1 8.4

In a way that is too eager to give unwanted help or advice and interfere

is driven by excessive curiosity about others' private affairs

Antonyms

33 5.1

In a careful, quiet way so you do not attract attention or make people feel embarrassed

4 4.4

In a careful, kind way when talking to avoid hurting someone's feelings

How Intrusive

intrusively
1 6.4
pryingly
8.9
curiously
22 2.6

Surface Forms

pryingly positive

Morphology

pryingly = prying (transparent) = pry + ingly

The adverbial form is clearly derived from the adjective 'prying' by adding the suffix '-ly'.

Etymology

Pryingly comes from the verb pry, which means 'to force open' or 'to look into'. Think of someone using a small tool to open a box to see what is inside. So, to act pryingly is to be nosy and push into someone else's private life.