predatory

adjective

pred·​a·​to·​ry ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē 

1

a

: of, relating to, or practicing plunder or pillage

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

Synonyms of predatory

• rapacious
• aggressive
• predaceous
• raptorial
• deadly
• ferocious
• wild
• savage

Examples of predatory in a Sentence

Hawks are predatory and may pose a danger to rabbits and other small pets.

The company made millions for investors but clearly engaged in predatory lending practices.

Recent Examples on the Web

Coming out of their successful, predatory expansion process, for example, the Golden Knights accumulated six additional draft picks — including two additional first-round picks — making 13 total picks in their inaugural appearance at the draft. —Thomas Drance, New York Times, 25 May 2026

When grown as lettuce companion plants, sweet alyssum can draw in hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and other predatory insects that keep your lettuce plants and other vegetables naturally pest-free. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026

The damsel bug, an insect in the Nabidae family, is a predatory bug. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 21 May 2026

Those practices included predatory mortgage lending, junk fees, confusing jargon on financial product descriptions, payday loans, and much more. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for predatory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• feudatory
• gustatory

Kids Definition

predatory

adjective

pred·​a·​to·​ry ˈpred-ə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

1

: of, relating to, or marked by robbing or using others for personal gain

predatory raids

2

: living by predation

predatory animals

Legal Definition

predatory

adjective

pred·​a·​to·​ry ˈpre-də-ˌtōr-ē 

1

: inclined or intended to injure competitors by unfair means

subject to antitrust liability for predatory conduct

—National Law Journal

predatory bidding

2

: inclined or intended to injure or exploit others for personal gain or profit

predatory loans

3

: of or relating to a sexual predator

predatory assault