predatory

pred·a·to·ry

adj \ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē\

Definition of PREDATORY

1

a : of, relating to, or practicing plunder, pillage, or rapine b : inclined or intended to injure or exploit others for personal gain or profit <predatory pricing practices>

2

: living by predation : predaceous; also : adapted to predation

Examples of PREDATORY

1. predatory acts of sexual violence
2. <hawks are predatory and pose a danger to rabbits and other pets>

First Known Use of PREDATORY

1589

Related to PREDATORY

Synonyms: predaceous (or predacious), rapacious, raptorial

Related Words: carnivorous; aggressive, deadly, ferocious, fierce, savage, violent; untamed, wild

Near Antonyms: herbivorous, vegetarian; gentle, submissive, tame

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Rhymes with PREDATORY

a priori, allegory, amatory, auditory, bedtime story, cacciatore, castratory, category, con amore, cover story, crematory, damnatory, decretory, dilatory, dormitory, excretory, expletory, feudatory, fumitory, Göteborg, gustatory, gyratory, horror story, hortatory, hunky-dory, inventory, laudatory, lavatory, mandatory, migratory, minatory, monitory, Montessori, morning glory, nugatory, offertory, oratory, overstory, piscatory, precatory, prefatory, probatory, promissory, promontory, purgatory, repertory, Ruwenzori, signatory, statutory, sudatory, territory, transitory, understory, vibratory, vomitory, yakitori