as in rapacious
living by killing and eating other animals
hawks are predatory and pose a danger to rabbits and other pets
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Recent Examples of predatory
Their predatory nature is one concern.
—
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
Though marigolds and sweet alyssum don’t directly affect each other, sweet alyssum will work to bring in hoverflies and ladybugs, and marigolds can work as a trap plant that graphs pests and holds them for the predatory insects to feed upon.
—Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
This bill would remove the power of local communities to ban video slot and poker machines, a power that dozens of communities across the state are successfully using to protect their residents from predatory gambling.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
And when Martha slips into costume designer Brenna Maienschein’s form-fitting leopard-print dress, her predatory strategy to seduce Nick as the final flank maneuver against her husband becomes clear.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predatory
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
Though marigolds and sweet alyssum don’t directly affect each other, sweet alyssum will work to bring in hoverflies and ladybugs, and marigolds can work as a trap plant that graphs pests and holds them for the predatory insects to feed upon.
—Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
This bill would remove the power of local communities to ban video slot and poker machines, a power that dozens of communities across the state are successfully using to protect their residents from predatory gambling.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
And when Martha slips into costume designer Brenna Maienschein’s form-fitting leopard-print dress, her predatory strategy to seduce Nick as the final flank maneuver against her husband becomes clear.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for predatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predatory
Adjective
-
But then there is the rapacious Bavarian and national media, for whom negativity about Bayern is big business, and a dressing room always loaded with forthright personalities and egos.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Carville’s theory was and remains controversial—his critics point to the lasting damage Trump has inflicted everywhere since his rapacious return to office while the Democrats have looked on haplessly.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Family questions police response Sye's other sister told CBS New Baltimore that the officers were too aggressive in their response.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Your 6th House of Health tightens under pressure as the unconscious Moon squares aggressive Mars, presently in your 3rd House of Dialogue, so timing and tone carry extra weight.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
These food-crops also benefit from the work performed by predaceous insects that control populations of crop-eating invertebrates.—
Bruce Beehler,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Biological control: Parasitic wasps, predaceous beetles and birds assist in lowering sawfly populations.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Villegas pushed for the original measure after dangerous speeding and red-light running by raptorial tow drivers ended in a nearly catastrophic crash in his ward that saw a bus that had been hit by a tow truck plow through a storefront.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Damsel bugs are slender and tan-colored and have slightly raptorial front legs.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2023
Adjective
-
The death toll was nearly double that of the previous figure given by authorities, who continued search and recovery efforts at the site of the deadly crash.—
Luis Jaime Acosta,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
An 18-year-old woman from Kansas City is dead following a deadly crash in rural Platte County early Sunday morning.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The best win of Leeds United’s season is arguably the ferocious demolition of Chelsea in December.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Tehran’s retaliation was swift and ferocious.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The End features performances from Shane Gillis, Nate Bargatze, Tom Segura, Tony Hinchcliffe, and many more of comedy’s top storytellers, who share their wildest, most unfiltered true stories in front of a live audience.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
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Leah pokes her head out around his legs, her eyes wild with excitement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The loss of books is minor, almost trivial, in light of all the horrors and violence unleashed by this senseless war, but the potential loss of these books is a sad reminder that we’re all affected and implicated in America’s savage flailings.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Conan O'Brien hit almost every note on Sunday — savage, playful, heartfelt and dumb.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predatory. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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