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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of predatory
This predatory cycle of exploitation ends here.
—
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 June 2026
As few large animals were present at that time, Praearcturus was free to become a predatory giant, according to the NYPost.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 June 2026
The Oregon Republican became a force in the Senate before his predatory behavior ended his political career.
—Laurence I. Barrett, Washington Post, 7 June 2026
Remember the predatory mortgage crisis.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for predatory
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 June 2026
As few large animals were present at that time, Praearcturus was free to become a predatory giant, according to the NYPost.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 June 2026
The Oregon Republican became a force in the Senate before his predatory behavior ended his political career.
—Laurence I. Barrett, Washington Post, 7 June 2026
Remember the predatory mortgage crisis.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for predatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predatory
Adjective
-
Young women being preyed upon and seduced by rapacious Hollywood producers, stars and studio heads is a tired cliché, but like all clichés, it is based on reality.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
Not the timeless myths of rapacious, demonic women or saintly self-sacrificial mothers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
-
That will be decided in the coming hours, as the Heat remains in aggressive pursuit of a trade for Antetokounmpo.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
22 June 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
-
In essence, the shrimp stores elastic energy inside the specialized raptorial limb, and a latch holds the limb in place while the muscles continue loading tension.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
The front pair of legs is raptorial, meaning they are used for catching and grasping prey.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
At the same time, vaccination rates have declined, worrying experts that more people could become vulnerable to this potentially deadly but preventable infection.—
Faye Chiu,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
-
The suspect, who has not yet been identified by police, was arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of 22-year-old Nasir Majied on Friday, June 5.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Adjective
-
So playing characters who were so ferocious and bold and confident and determined and all that helped me profoundly in my personal life.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
-
Your ferocious work ethic and absolutely unshakable moral fiber.—
Scott Bauer,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The new iteration sees The Cat in the Hat, voiced by Bill Hader, fighting for his job as a professional mischief-maker brought in to cheer up lackluster children after his wild antics go to far.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
-
Situated in western Canada’s Alberta province, a tapestry of the Rocky Mountains serves as the backdrop across this wild frontier of limestone giants and ancient glaciers.—
Kristin Braswell,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
Harron slyly transforms it into a savage social satire, using the narrator’s unreliable point of view to borderline absurdist effect.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 June 2026
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What begins as a desperate family bonding trip rapidly devolves into savage violence and brutal psychological warfare.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predatory. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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