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

These include many species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, as well as predatory insects and spiders, and pathogens specific to pests, such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for many caterpillars. —Nanette Londeree, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025

Redlining, financial exclusion, and predatory lending are just some of the ways dominant financial systems have caused harm. —Rahkim Sabree, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

Company paid $13 million to settle 'numerous allegations of predatory conduct' Kent earned his undergraduate degree in 2005 at West Virginia Wesleyan College, a private school with ties to the United Methodist Church. —Chris Quintana, USA Today, 26 July 2025

While companion planting can naturally attract predatory insects to your garden, some growers may want to release parasitic wasps directly onto their lily plants for beetle control. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 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