be/fall prey to
idiom
1
: to be killed by (an animal, disease, etc.)
The deer fell prey to coyotes.
Many people fell prey to disease.
2
: to be harmed or affected in a bad way by (someone or something)
After the accident, she was prey to all kinds of anxieties.
Some of his friends fell prey to drugs.
Examples of be/fall prey to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The challenge for the Leafs will be finding a way to turn the other cheek and not fall prey to one of the Panthers’ biggest strengths.
—
Chris Johnston, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Often, people who fall prey to scams don’t want to admit they could have been fooled — but that shame can in turn keep others in the dark.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2025
Without such guardrails, well-meaning AI initiatives quickly fall prey to chaos and inconsistency.
—Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
On Friday, the organization took action by warning thespians not to fall prey to offers that promise auditions in exchange for payment.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for be/fall prey to
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.
Chris Johnston, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Often, people who fall prey to scams don’t want to admit they could have been fooled — but that shame can in turn keep others in the dark.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2025
Without such guardrails, well-meaning AI initiatives quickly fall prey to chaos and inconsistency.
—Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
On Friday, the organization took action by warning thespians not to fall prey to offers that promise auditions in exchange for payment.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for be/fall prey to
Cite this Entry
“Be/fall prey to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%2Ffall%20prey%20to. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share