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
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
-
Terry Lockett, 43, charged with predatory criminal sexaul assault of two young relatives.
-
Theodore Roosevelt suggested importing a predatory ant from Guatemala to feed on the weevil.
-
In its case against Wells Fargo, Los Angeles alleged that black mortgage borrowers were more than twice as likely as white borrowers with similar credit scores to receive loans the city deemed predatory.
-
When a predatory fish like a bass attacks the lure, the mussel fires its larvae in the dupe’s gills.
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
-
: living by killing and eating other animals
-
: 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
-
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up predatory? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!