usurious

adjective

usu·​ri·​ous yu̇-ˈzhu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce usurious (audio) -ˈzu̇r- How to pronounce usurious (audio)
1
: practicing usury
2
: involving usury : of the character of usury
usurious interest rates
usuriously adverb
usuriousness noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Passed in Illinois in 2021, the law was given life by legislators concerned that the poorest in Illinois were being charged usurious rates of interest for small-dollar loans. John Tamny, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023 The government could do something about this by recognizing an effective usurious interest rate and putting a stop to turning people into the fiscal equivalent of the mountains of bodies in cells providing energy for soulless machines in the movie The Matrix. Erik Sherman, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022 The fees are usurious. Ashish Prashar, CNN, 17 June 2021 A lot of this spending is facilitated by revolving credit that currently commands usurious interest rates. WSJ, 19 June 2020 The tendency of players and their families to take out loans with usurious lenders only exacerbates the problem, according to a veteran Dominican trainer who asked not to be identified because he is involved in such deals. Christian Red And Teri Thompson, USA TODAY, 17 June 2020 During a bad year, money from the sale of the cotton crop might not cover even the initial cost of the inputs, let alone suffice to pay the usurious interest on loans or provide adequate food or necessities for the family. Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2012 Quranic regulations could be interpreted to allow for reasonable interest payments while banning usurious interest. Daniel Pipes, WSJ, 29 Dec. 2021 And yes, Porsche's usurious options list is scarily seductive. Rich Ceppos, Car and Driver, 17 Nov. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'usurious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of usurious was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near usurious

Cite this Entry

“Usurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usurious. Accessed 30 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

usurious

adjective
usu·​ri·​ous yu̇-ˈzhu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce usurious (audio) -ˈzu̇r- How to pronounce usurious (audio)
: practicing, involving, or being usury
usurious interest

Legal Definition

usurious

adjective
usu·​ri·​ous yu̇-ˈzhu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce usurious (audio)
1
: practicing usury
2
: involving usury
usurious interest
usuriously adverb
usuriousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on usurious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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