Pryingly

In a manner characterized by inquisitive curiosity, a seeking after information, or an attempt to intrude into someone's privacy. It often suggests a nosy or prying attitude, where one seeks to discover secrets or personal details about others' affairs. The action can be direct or subtle, expressed through questioning, observation, or eavesdropping. It can also convey a sense of probing into something closed or secret, perhaps driven by a desire to understand or a lack of respect for boundaries.

Pryingly meaning with examples

• She looked at the letter pryingly, tilting her head as if hoping the angle might reveal a hidden message. Her aunt, who knew about the secret meeting, would pryingly examine any paper that might give her clues about what they might be talking about. She was never going to be the same again.
• The journalist asked questions pryingly, pushing for details of the scandal that the politician was reluctant to offer. Her determination to get the story was relentless. She was willing to step into the murky waters for a good story. She was never one for just the surface.
• He peered pryingly through the keyhole, trying to see what was happening inside the locked room. He didn't know why he wanted to know, and the more he didn't know the more he pryingly looked. If his brother caught him it would be an explanation he wouldn't want to give.
• Ignoring the 'Private Property' sign, the hikers advanced pryingly, curious about the abandoned cabin's history and state of disrepair. Their curiosity overran the warnings, and now they would have to bear the consequence of their actions.