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

The programs that once felt like partnerships are now predatory relationships designed to extract maximum value while delivering minimum benefits. —Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026

The airy golden flowerheads of dill plants are packed with thousands of tiny flowers that support a diversity of predatory insects including syrphids, parasitoid wasps, lacewings, and ladybeetles. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026

Grass lines in 8 to 15 feet of water make a perfect location for ambushing their prey and hiding from other predatory fish like muskies. —Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026

Commonly found in vegetable gardens, borage attracts bees and predatory wasps with its attractive flowers. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 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
• 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