1
2
as in victim
a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed
he fell prey to nagging—but groundless—doubts about his wife's fidelity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in target
a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule
that woman has a sharp tongue, and her favored prey is her long-suffering husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prey
This simpler venom contained fewer and more focused toxin families, suggesting that these rattlesnakes had evolved to effectively target extremely specific prey.
—
Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
It can often be seen walking slowly along the shore, poking around for fiddler crabs, among the species’ favored prey.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
The research team used advanced 3D imaging technology to find the ancient ant had many features similar to modern dirt ants, including distinctive mandibles with 12 triangular teeth for catching prey.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2025
Their larvae live in small holes in the turf and wait for their prey to walk by.
—Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey
Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
It can often be seen walking slowly along the shore, poking around for fiddler crabs, among the species’ favored prey.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
The research team used advanced 3D imaging technology to find the ancient ant had many features similar to modern dirt ants, including distinctive mandibles with 12 triangular teeth for catching prey.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2025
Their larvae live in small holes in the turf and wait for their prey to walk by.
—Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
-
Abby’s focused on finding Joel and seems unconcerned about her promise to the others that no one other than her quarry of five years will be hurt in her quest for vengeance.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The quarry was initially dug in the first century B.C. as a source for tuff, a volcanic rock that was pulverized as an ingredient for Roman concrete, the strong, essential material used to construct the city’s most illustrious architectural wonders.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That fight for victim's rights has shaped all their lives.—
Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley,
CBS News,
4 May 2025
-
In search of a motive, detectives got a search warrant for the victim’s CSUN email account, court records show.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
Local and regional publications typically have both digital and print formats, which already have an existing audience of nearby readers who are the target demographic for these businesses.—
Emily Reynolds Bergh,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Entering Boston had been a target for Rick Allen, the company’s founder, for quite some time.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Florida has executed Gulf War veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson for the shooting deaths of his girlfriend and her three children despite a letter from 129 veterans arguing that Hutchinson's mind was a casualty of war.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
These are among the many casualties of the Trump administration's decision to level a research agency that has devoted much of its energy over the past five decades to reducing people's exposure to harmful chemicals and other dangerous conditions in the workplace.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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