Definition of predatory
1a : of, relating to, or practicing plunder, pillage, or rapineb : 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
predatory acts of sexual violence
hawks are predatory and pose a danger to rabbits and other pets
Recent Examples of predatory from the Web
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Webster has been an outspoken religious leader on social justice issues in Alabama, especially on the issue of predatory lending.
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Yes, there are a few predatory men, and they should be punished with the full force of the law, but the real crisis on campus isn’t criminal.
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At the time, Ken Marsh from Alaska Department of Fish and Game told National Geographic that the attacks had all the markings of a predatory attack.
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Donald Trump is in office despite allegations of predatory behavior; Bill Cosby took his mistrial as a reason to swagger.
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Prison gangs are highly predatory groups involved in drug activity, extortion and violence.
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Matt Wedeking, division operations manager with Alaska State Parks, said the predatory behavior of the bear in the attack on the teen was not normal.
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The House legislation guts the agency’s power to police unfair practices and eliminates oversight of often predatory payday loan market.
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Semiaquatic adaptations in a giant predatory dinosaur.
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.
First Known Use of predatory
1589
PREDATORY Defined for English Language Learners
predatory
playDefinition of predatory for English Language Learners
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: living by killing and eating other animals
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: wrongly harming or using others for pleasure or profit
PREDATORY Defined for Kids
predatory
playDefinition of predatory for Students
: living by killing and eating other animals An owl is a predatory bird.
Law Dictionary
predatory
playLegal 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
Learn More about predatory
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See words that rhyme with predatory Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for predatory Spanish Central: Translation of predatory Nglish: Translation of predatory for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of predatory for Arabic speakers
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