prey on

Idioms  

1. 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]

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

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

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Example Sentences

“Injuries remain extremely rare,” according to the agency, which notes sharks do not typically prey on humans and most bites are believed to be exploratory or cases of mistaken identity.

From Los Angeles Times

Like many members of the wolf snake group, they are non-venomous and likely prey on small vertebrates such as reptiles, amphibians and rodents.

From Science Daily

Yet certain animals, including some birds, spiders, and frogs, regularly prey on adult hornets.

From Science Daily

County supervisors want to bar “predatory” salespeople who they say prey on vulnerable residents seeking benefits from the region’s social services offices.

From Los Angeles Times

For decades, scientists suspected that some large bat species prey on small birds during flight.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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