variants
or nosey
1
as in prying
interested in what is not one's own business
nosy in-laws asking about our finances
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
a nosy coworker sat down right next to us as we were having an unmistakably private conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of nosy
Rocky plays James, a nosy neighbor who might be up to no good, while O’Brien plays her therapist, Wolk is a motel employee, and Macdonald appears to be a patient.
—
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Aug. 2025
Effective passive mediation works by letting your mind empty of cluttering worries, like turning off a nosy kitchen fan or muting blaring music emanating from your teen’s bedroom.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2025
Lucky for him, Lizzy is the only person in his sightline and, even more conveniently, not a single one of her friends, nor her nosy, meddling mother, follows her even one step outside the church when Lizzy stops short of entering and asks for a minute.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 July 2025
Just ask season 10 American Idol runner-up and country singer Lauren Alaina, who took to her Insta on Monday (July 7) to clap back at a nosy Nancy who seemed to know exactly what the 30-year-old new mom should be doing to help month-old daughter Beni Doll Arnold.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nosy
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Aug. 2025
Effective passive mediation works by letting your mind empty of cluttering worries, like turning off a nosy kitchen fan or muting blaring music emanating from your teen’s bedroom.
—Patricia Steckler, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2025
Lucky for him, Lizzy is the only person in his sightline and, even more conveniently, not a single one of her friends, nor her nosy, meddling mother, follows her even one step outside the church when Lizzy stops short of entering and asks for a minute.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 July 2025
Just ask season 10 American Idol runner-up and country singer Lauren Alaina, who took to her Insta on Monday (July 7) to clap back at a nosy Nancy who seemed to know exactly what the 30-year-old new mom should be doing to help month-old daughter Beni Doll Arnold.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nosy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nosy
Adjective
-
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.—
Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin,
oregonlive,
4 Feb. 2023
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But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
4 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
It's been a busy week for the European technology sector.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
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The seven people killed by the explosions are believed to have been working for Devastating Pyrotechnics in the busy days ahead of a string of shows scheduled on and around the Fourth of July.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These waters are the only ones in Australia where divers can spot inquisitive Galápagos whaler sharks.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
11 Sep. 2025
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The world’s first inkjet printer Rune Elmqvist was an inquisitive person.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Even a humble vape pen could serve a website until too many curious visitors try to connect.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
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Occasionally a curious polar bear meandered near camp, which was always changing as the ice floe buckled and drifted across the Arctic Ocean.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nosy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nosy. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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