predatory
Americanadjective
-
Zoology. preying upon other organisms for food.
-
of, relating to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, or robbery, as in war.
predatory tactics.
- Synonyms:
- rapacious
-
engaging in or living by these activities.
predatory bands of brigands.
- Synonyms:
- rapacious
-
excessive or exploitative in amount or cost, as out of greed or to take advantage of consumers or patrons.
predatory pricing.
-
seeking to exploit, victimize, or prey on others.
More and more, senior citizens find themselves victims of predatory scams that rob them of their savings.
-
acting with or possessed by overbearing, greedy, or selfish motives.
He was cornered at the party by a predatory reporter.
adjective
-
zoology another word for predacious
-
of, involving, or characterized by plundering, robbing, etc
Other Word Forms
- nonpredatorily adverb
- nonpredatorilyness noun
- nonpredatory adjective
- predatorily adverb
- predatoriness noun
- unpredatory adjective
Etymology
Origin of predatory
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin praedātōrius “plundering, marauding”; predator, -tory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the past, market discipline hasn’t always been enough to prevent private student lenders from partnering with schools with poor outcomes to offer arguably predatory loans often to low-income students.
From MarketWatch
Australia in December banned users under 16 from the world's largest social media platforms, citing the need to protect them from "predatory algorithms" and online bullying.
From Barron's
The settlement followed an investigation into lending practices that Oregon’s then-attorney general, in a news release, described as “predatory and harmful.”
From Salon
The AEA allows the government to detain and deport citizens of hostile foreign nations in times of war or during an "invasion or predatory incursion."
From Barron's
Nine weeks later she scored the equaliser for England in the European Championship final against Spain with a predatory header from seven yards.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
