usurious

American  

[yoo-zhoor-ee-uhs] / yuˈʒʊər i əs /

adjective

1. practicing usury; charging illegal or exorbitant rates of interest for the use of money.

   a usurious moneylender.

2. constituting or characterized by usury.

   usurious rates of interest; a usurious loan.

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Other Word Forms

• nonusurious adjective
• nonusuriously adverb
• nonusuriousness noun
• unusurious adjective
• unusuriously adverb
• unusuriousness noun
• usuriously adverb
• usuriousness noun

Etymology

Origin of usurious

First recorded in 1600–10; usury + -ous

Example Sentences

An auto lender that allegedly charged hidden, usurious interest rates got to stay in business last year if it paid a fine and didn’t commit fraud in the future.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2024

Consider bail bond companies, which charge usurious fees to those desperate to get loved ones out of jail.

From Slate • Dec. 20, 2022

Nearly two decades ago, the state made it a felony to offer high-interest payday loans that state lawmakers described as usurious.

From Salon • Nov. 15, 2022

"This legitimises a parallel banking system with usurious interest rates and no investor would be attracted to such an economy where lending can be suspended overnight."

From Reuters • May 9, 2022

He was holding the Lombard back and shouting, “You offer a usurious rate! Forty percent! Forty! My uncle offered thirty. Thirty is reasonable! Thirty is standard! But thirty is undercutting now?”

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz