predatory

[pred-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

1. Zoology.,  preying upon other organisms for food.

2. of, relating to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, or robbery, as in war.

   predatory tactics.

   Synonyms: rapacious

3. engaging in or living by these activities.

   predatory bands of brigands.

   Synonyms: rapacious

4. excessive or exploitative in amount or cost, as out of greed or to take advantage of consumers or patrons.

   predatory pricing.

5. 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.

6. acting with or possessed by overbearing, greedy, or selfish motives.

   He was cornered at the party by a predatory reporter.

predatory

/ ˈprɛdətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. zoology another word for predacious

2. of, involving, or characterized by plundering, robbing, etc

Other Word Forms

• predatorily adverb
• predatoriness noun
• nonpredatorily adverb
• nonpredatorilyness noun
• nonpredatory adjective
• unpredatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of predatory¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin praedātōrius “plundering, marauding”; predator, -tory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of predatory¹

C16: from Latin praedātōrius rapacious, from praedārī to pillage, from praeda booty

Example Sentences

Still, its predatory policies seemed far away from the serenity of our shared afternoon.

From Salon

He said the "defining political choice of our times" was between those who want a "patriotic national renewal" and the "politics of predatory grievance".

From BBC

During a speech announcing a new digital ID scheme, the prime minister said the "defining political choice of our times" would be between the centre-left and the "politics of predatory grievance".

From BBC

"This is the defining political choice of our times: a politics of predatory grievance, preying on the problems of working people… against the politics of patriotic renewal," Sir Keir Starmer will claim.

From BBC

While American obsession with East Asian culture does always come with the worry of increased racial fetishization, this wave feels far more celebratory than predatory.

From Salon

Related Words

• greedy 
• marauding 
• rapacious 
• voracious