predatory
Americanadjective
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Zoology. preying upon other organisms for food.
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of, relating to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, or robbery, as in war.
predatory tactics.
- Synonyms:
- rapacious
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engaging in or living by these activities.
predatory bands of brigands.
- Synonyms:
- rapacious
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excessive or exploitative in amount or cost, as out of greed or to take advantage of consumers or patrons.
predatory pricing.
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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.
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acting with or possessed by overbearing, greedy, or selfish motives.
He was cornered at the party by a predatory reporter.
adjective
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zoology another word for predacious
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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.
Two decades of social media history tells us that the reach and anonymity of the platforms facilitates predatory behavior.
From Barron's
Their features clearly link them to a cardabiodontid, a group of giant predatory sharks that inhabited the oceans around 100 million years ago.
From Science Daily
“Where appropriate, the federal government should deploy tools that neutralize predatory pricing,” while easing access to project permits and working with allies, added Sloustcher.
From Barron's
Zeme emphasized that the bear in this case appeared confused and startled, not predatory.
From Los Angeles Times
Opening the prosecution's case, Tom Little KC said Carrick was "predatory and controlling", and the judge ruled jurors could be told of his previous convictions, which is something that is usually not allowed in trials.
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.
