predatory

adjective

pred·​a·​to·​ry ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē 

1

a

: 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

Synonyms

• rapacious
• aggressive
• predacious
• predaceous
• raptorial
• deadly
• wild
• violent
• ferocious

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

When customers trust you enough to consolidate their financial lives, expanding into credit becomes natural evolution, not predatory behavior. —Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Heirs property also leaves families vulnerable to predatory investors who force partition sales, tax and mortgage defaults, and ultimately, homeownership loss. —Marco Villegas, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2025

But the Nutritional Advisory Group to the AZA highlights the importance of predatory animals still having access to large and whole animal remains as part of a balanced diet. —Alana Wise, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025

Following ongoing reports and accusations of grooming and predatory behavior experienced by its younger-skewing users, the gaming platform rolled out a slew of new safety features Thursday. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 17 July 2025

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
• extempore
• feudatory

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