predator

[ pred-uh-ter, -tawr ]

noun

1. Zoology. any organism that exists by preying upon other organisms:

   Cats are carnivorous predators.

2. a person or group that plunders, pillages, or robs, as in war:

   The Vikings were barbarian predators.

3. a person, group, or business that exploits, victimizes, or preys on others: corporate predators who go after smaller rivals.

   a sexual predator who targets children;

   corporate predators who go after smaller rivals.

4. an overbearing, greedy or selfish person.

predator

/ ˈprɛdətə /

noun

1. any carnivorous animal
2. a predatory person or thing

predator

/ prĕd′ə-tər /

1. An animal that lives by capturing and eating other animals.

Other Words From

• an·ti·pred·a·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of predator¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin praedātor “plunderer, pillager,” equivalent to praedā(rī) “to plunder, pillage” (derivative of praeda “booty, plunder”) + -tor, agent noun suffix; prey, -tor

Example Sentences

When you remove top predators, herbivores like deer increase and they eat all the vegetation.

From Nautilus

These new specimens we’ve examined reveal a bizarre, monstrous predator.

From Singularity Hub 

As top predators in coastal ecosystems, these furry floaters gobble down a quarter of their body weight in urchins, crabs and clams each day.

From Science News

They would have been less like a pizza topping and more of a fearsome predator.

From Science News For Students

All animals need to avoid predators as they find food and shelter.

From Science News For Students

But when a serial sex predator is playing fanboy, the gag reflex kicks in.

From The Daily Beast

The lascivious sex predator is out; the deep-pocketed caped crusader is most definitely in.

From The Daily Beast

The Air Force has enough MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

From The Daily Beast

Amirpour sees the pimp as a liberator rather than a predator.

From The Daily Beast

A man tracks her back to a building where the girl bares her fangs and devours him, reversing the role of predator.

From The Daily Beast

Shortly after midnight Lockley had been awakened when a skunk defeated a hungry predator within a hundred yards of their bivouac.

From Project Gutenberg

Wasps in their predator state have been known to render spiders senseless, then bury them encrusted with eggs.

From Project Gutenberg

He envisaged a future free of pool hall smells and the glandular malfunctioning of his predator owner.

From Project Gutenberg

Heavy bounties paid for wolf heads eventually reduced the depredations of this predator until sheep and goats were fairly safe.

From Project Gutenberg

Pursuit by a predator, random movement, or other cause may be responsible for shift from one edge to another.

From Project Gutenberg