The interpretation of the word “pry”

Pry in the sense of "ask for information" is almost always negative in connotation.

Pry in the sense of "use a stick or bar to open something" is neutral in connotation, and is a shortening of prise/prize.

(This usage of pry is a verb, so one can't say "be pry" in the way one can say "be curious".)

to pry Macmillan Dictionary

[intransitive] to be interested in someone’s personal life in a way that is annoying or offensive

As in:

• I just glanced at the letter; I didn’t mean to pry.
• The press continues to pry into their affairs.

Depending on the context, to pry is meaning to be intrusive and or offensive, though the phrase prying eyes is a more neutral 'curious', but still annoyingly so.

The OED gives this definition:

... to peer intrusively; ... to seek out secret or private information, ... to spy.

Etymonline.com cites early usage as being more inquisitive than obtrusively inquisitive. My sense of current usage is more to the negative or offensive.

"look inquisitively," c. 1300, from prien "to peer in," of unknown origin, perhaps related to late Old English bepriwan "to wink." Related: Pried; prying. As a noun, "act of prying," from 1750; meaning "inquisitive person" is from 1845.