pry

To pry means to use force to separate something that is tightly joined or closed. Think of a carpenter carefully prying up old floorboards to repair damage underneath, or the effort required to pry the lid off a rusted paint can. It implies using leverage to overcome significant physical resistance.

However, "pry" also has a figurative meaning: to look into something too closely or to ask questions in a way that feels intrusive, especially about private matters. If someone is prying into your personal life, they are being nosy and crossing a line. This use often suggests an attempt to find out something that another person does not want to reveal. You might say, "I wish my neighbor wouldn't pry into my business."

So, whether it is the physical act of forcing something open or an unwelcome attempt to learn private information, pry usually carries the idea of pressure and intrusion. In physical use, the pressure is literal. In social use, it is emotional or personal. The word often has a negative feeling, especially when it describes people who do not respect privacy.