usurious

[ yoo-zhoor-ee-uhs ]

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.

Other Words From

• u·suri·ous·ly adverb
• u·suri·ous·ness noun
• nonu·suri·ous adjective
• nonu·suri·ous·ly adverb
• nonu·suri·ous·ness noun
• unu·suri·ous adjective
• unu·suri·ous·ly adverb
• unu·suri·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of usurious¹

First recorded in 1600–10; usury + -ous

Example Sentences

Merkley, as it happens, is from Delaware, where the banks holding this usurious debt are located.

From The Daily Beast

When it came to Haiti, France was first a brutal colonizer, and then a usurious bully.

From The Daily Beast

The young girl's father entrusted M. Cruchot with his usurious dealings and probably with all his money matters.

From Project Gutenberg

In the later middle ages, especially in Germany, it acquired the sense of usurious or oppressive dealing with money and capital.

From Project Gutenberg

The Jews were wealthy, and did no small harm by their usurious practices.

From Project Gutenberg

This was charged up against him to be paid for later at usurious interest.

From Project Gutenberg

Our post-office orders are issued at usurious rates, and within limited hours.

From Project Gutenberg