1
2
as in victim
a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed
he fell prey to nagging—but groundless—doubts about his wife's fidelity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in target
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prey
The structural density of elephant cortical bone provided superior resilience during impact, explaining why ancient toolmakers preferred it over thinner, more brittle bones from smaller prey.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
Small dogs should always be kept on leash, as they can be perceived as prey.
—Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
That’s likely due to habitat loss, unregulated hunting and lack of prey, among other factors.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Wolverines primarily scavenge carcasses in winter and prey on small mammals, such as pikas, in summer, earning them a reputation among biologists as a natural cleanup crew.
—Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
Small dogs should always be kept on leash, as they can be perceived as prey.
—Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
That’s likely due to habitat loss, unregulated hunting and lack of prey, among other factors.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Wolverines primarily scavenge carcasses in winter and prey on small mammals, such as pikas, in summer, earning them a reputation among biologists as a natural cleanup crew.
—Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
-
When this photo was shot in the early 1900s, the home belonged to George Martin, a wealthy farmer and quarry owner who built the 12-room mansion for his family on what was then the rural edge of downtown Naperville.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Since acquiring the property, the family has been working to renovate the quarry to get ready for the anticipated opening around Memorial Day.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Court documents in the federal prosecution of the employee, Jacob Melvin Hart, indicate there could be more juvenile victims from Crossline Community Church.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
All three victims were shot and killed outside the Sky Market on 85th Avenue and International Boulevard, allegedly after the brothers attempted to purchase marijuana from another person who was at the store, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Two younger craters have since formed within Cassini's expanse, the basins of which are drenched in darkness around the time of the first quarter moon, making for a visually spectacular telescopic target.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
After Sutton, Denver has wide receiver Troy Franklin, tight end Even Enrgam, Harvey and wideout Marvin Mims rounding out its top targets.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Kingdom of Denmark suffered significant casualties in Afghanistan, where its forces deployed to Helmand Province – one of the deadliest theaters of the war.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Death toll from the crackdown now exceeds 5,032, with activists struggling to verify casualties due to a comprehensive internet blackout.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
