prey on
Idioms-
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]
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Hunt, especially in order to eat, as in Their cat preys on all the rodents in the neighborhood . [c. 1600]
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Exert a baneful or injurious effect, as in Guilt preyed on his mind . [c. 1700]
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.
They say the schemes prey on fear of the legal system and the social stigma that comes with being associated with criminal investigations, trapping even highly educated professionals.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
“Her ability to deceptively influence others, whether in person or online, has now come to an end. Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who uses deception and manipulation to prey on others.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
"Our message is clear, those who prey on our children will pay a hefty price," said US attorney Kelly Hayes for the District of Maryland.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
"Let's be very crystal clear here: if a bull shark, or a tiger, or a great white did want to prey on a human, there would be no body."
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
They loved to prey on rootworkers and suck up all their strength.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
