prey
noun
an animal hunted or seized for food, especially by a carnivorous animal.
have preyed
-
present perfectof prey.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Major food brands have preyed on purchasers' insecurities — be those financial-, health- or status-based — since the advent of advertising.
From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2024
During the last ice age, he notes, large lions roamed North America that may have preyed upon these infected—and emboldened—beasts.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 24, 2022
That setback, getting scragged by Ardie Savea at the back of the breakdown, will have preyed on his mind.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2022
Together they present a portrait of a celebrity spokesman who overstated his role in a for-profit program that is alleged to have preyed upon veterans and service members while defrauding the government.
From Seattle Times ● May 20, 2022
Again, the Augurs have preyed on the unexpected fear, the one I didn't realize I had.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
