prey

1 an animal that is hunted or killed <rabbits are common prey for owls and hawks> Synonyms chase, quarry Related Words game; kill, victim; beast, brute, creature, critter; target Near Antonyms carnivore; chaser, hunter, pursuer; killer, murderer Antonyms predator

2 a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed <he fell prey to nagging—but groundless—doubts about his wife's fidelity> Synonyms fatality, loss, casualty, victimRelated Words loser, underdog; martyr, sacrifice; collateral damage; murdereeNear Antonyms gainer, victor, winner; harmer, injurer; assassin, killer, murderer

3 a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule <that woman has a sharp tongue, and her favored prey is her long-suffering husband> Synonyms butt, mark, target, sitting duck, victimRelated Words laughingstock, mockery, pilgarlic; lightning rod; fall guy, goat, scapegoat, whipping boyNear Antonyms gossip, gossiper, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, troublemaker; defamer, libeler, libelist, traducer; baiter, heckler, needler, ribber, taunter, tease, teaser, tormentor (also tormenter), torturer; derider, insulter, mocker, ridiculer, scoffer, scorner; caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist