prey on

1. Hunt, especially in order to eat, as in Their cat preys on all the rodents in the neighborhood . [c. 1600]

2. Exert a baneful or injurious effect, as in Guilt preyed on his mind . [c. 1700]

3. Plunder or pillage; also, make a profit at someone else's expense, victimize. For example, Vikings preyed on the coastal towns of England , or The rich have been preying on the poor for centuries . [Late 1500s]

Related Words

• bully
• devour
• exploit
• feed on
• fleece
• haunt
• intimidate
• oppress
• plunder
• take advantage of
• victimize