pried away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pried away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of forcibly removing someone or something from a place or situation. Example: "She pried away the child from the group of friends who were teasing him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Many evidently had been roughly pried away from temple walls and were missing limbs or heads.

The New Yorker

During last year's election, he pried away formerly diehard L.D.P. supporters like doctors and farmers with promises of generous handouts.

The New York Times

And that loyalty, now that it's been pried away with a crowbar, now it's attached to a new team".

The New York Times - Sports

But there's only one America's Cup, and the winner gets to keep it, until it is pried away.

The New York Times - Sports

Kosovo has remained under United Nations control since it was pried away from the Yugoslav security forces in June 1999.

The New York Times

The boys had to be pried away from the fascinating bedside monitors charting Ivey's respiration and heart rate.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

After taking the job, he started prying away members of his old Warner Brothers team.

The New York Times - Magazine

Administration officials added that their goal is to pry away labor votes as they head into the November elections.

The New York Times

Yet in Berger's story this flattening represents the people prying away power from "a cultural hierarchy of relic specialists".

The New Yorker

They smoked hashish and sunned on the beach, while Cleaver and his cronies — hardly ideologues — tried to pry away their ransom money.

The New York Times - Books

Even after regulators forced it to yield some of the matches a few years ago, rivals were able to pry away only a small share of the games.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pried away" when you want to emphasize the difficulty or force involved in separating something or someone. For example: "The detective pried the truth away from the reluctant witness."

Common error

Avoid using "pried away" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear. Instead of saying "The information was pried away", specify who did the prying: "The journalist pried the information away from the company spokesperson."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pried away" functions as a phrasal verb, often used to describe the action of forcefully or painstakingly removing something or someone. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous real-world examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "pried away" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for describing a forceful or difficult separation. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its versatility, appearing commonly in news and media contexts. When writing, consider using this phrase to emphasize resistance or effort involved in a separation. While generally neutral, adjust your language based on your audience. Avoid passive constructions to ensure clarity. Remember, alternatives like "wrested from" or "snatched from" may suit better depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forcibly removed from

Emphasizes the use of force in the act of removal.

pulled away from

Indicates a physical action of moving something or someone away.

wrested from

Implies a struggle or effort to take something away from someone.

snatched from

Suggests a sudden and forceful removal.

dislodged from

Implies something was firmly fixed and then removed.

extracted from

Indicates a careful or deliberate removal, often from a contained space.

detached from

Suggests a separation from something larger or more connected.

separated from

A general term for causing a division or detachment.

liberated from

Conveys a sense of freeing someone or something from a negative situation.

taken from

A simple and direct way of saying something was removed.

FAQs

How can I use "pried away" in a sentence?

You can use "pried away" to describe a forceful removal, as in, "The detective "pried away" the truth from the suspect" or "The toddler had to be "pried away" from his favorite toy".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "pried away"?

Alternatives include "wrested from", "snatched from", or "extracted from", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "pried away" formal or informal?

"Pried away" is generally considered a neutral phrase, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, consider the audience and choose a more formal alternative like "forcibly removed" if writing for an academic or professional setting.

What's the difference between "pried away" and "pulled away"?

"Pried away" suggests a more difficult or forceful separation than "pulled away from". "Pulled away" implies a simple, physical action of moving something or someone, while "pried away" indicates resistance or difficulty in the separation.