predatory

adjective

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pred·a·to·ry | \ ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē

Definition of predatory

1a : 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

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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 My character was basically a very predatory version of myself. — Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 18 July 2021 Thankfully, SoLo Funds, an online community co-founded by two BIPOC financial services leaders, exists where members can request and fund short-term needs in a non-predatory and accessible way. — Essence, 29 June 2021 This line of thinking is based on the idea that highly profitable businesses are always predatory. — Sean-michael Pigeon, National Review, 15 June 2021 Even the payday loan industry association testified that that practice was so predatory that it should be outlawed. — Lee Davidson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Nov. 2020 This is an especially problematic practice in the financial services industry, which is already criticized for using complicated jargon that consumers find confusing and often predatory. — Kristin Wong, Wired, 19 Aug. 2020 President Donald Trump quietly ended a rule intended to protect low-income Americans from predatory high-interest payday loans this week. — Nicole Goodkind, Fortune, 10 July 2020 The war largely caused by NATO’s expansion continues burning fitfully in Eastern Ukraine, complicated now by the president’s typically predatory attempt to force the Ukrainians to do his political bidding. — Mark Danner, The New York Review of Books, 3 June 2020 Racial covenants dovetailed with redlining and predatory lending practices to depress homeownership rates for African Americans. — Hasit Shah, Quartz, 1 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'predatory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near predatory

predatoriness

predatory

predawn

Statistics for predatory

Cite this Entry

“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predatory. Accessed 11 Jan. 2022.

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More Definitions for predatory

predatory

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of predatory

: living by killing and eating other animals

: wrongly harming or using others for pleasure or profit

See the full definition for predatory in the English Language Learners Dictionary

predatory

adjective

pred·a·to·ry | \ ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē

Kids Definition of predatory

: living by killing and eating other animals An owl is a predatory bird.

predatory

adjective

pred·a·to·ry | \ ˈpre-də-ˌtōr-ē

Legal Definition of predatory

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