predatory

adjective

ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce predatory (audio)
Definition of predatorynext
as in rapacious
living by killing and eating other animals hawks are predatory and pose a danger to rabbits and other pets

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of predatory At the same time, its flowers attract beneficial predatory insects, such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps, that naturally hunt harmful garden pests. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026 Years of insurgency and predatory armed gangs have devastated northern Nigeria, displacing millions. — Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 His second, from a gorgeous first touch and lightning-quick shot, was one of the most predatory finishes of the entire tournament. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026 Uber argued that the attorneys were trying to line their pockets by forcing car-accident victims into predatory relationships with medical providers, while the attorneys accused the rideshare giant of trying to escape accountability by rewriting civil liability laws. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for predatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predatory
  1. rapacious
  2. aggressive
  3. predaceous
  4. raptorial
  5. deadly
  6. ferocious
  7. wild
  8. savage
Adjective
  • If proteinmaxxing conjures the rapacious spirit of an HGTV makeover show, fibremaxxing is like a PBS special about restoring a Victorian home.
    — Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of rapacious
Adjective
  • Jones more aggressive Jones’ three appearances in the California Classic were defined by a passive way of playing.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
  • Your dog is reactive or aggressive around other animals or strangers.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of aggressive
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
  • Look for and conserve natural enemies such as predaceous bugs, lacewings, lady beetles, and syrphids.
    — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025
Definition of predaceous
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
Definition of raptorial
Adjective
  • When the Guadalupe River surged through Texas Hill Country last summer, Elida Sierra Lutz and her three children were swept into the deadly flooding like debris in the current.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Written and directed by YouTube filmmaker Curry Barker, the film, made for $750,000, tells a twisted tale of love with deadly consequences.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • Known for his command of ferocious demon-quelling deities, Zhenwu remains a popular deity in Daoist exorcist rituals in places such as Taiwan.
    — Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • That’s because a parasite called Cyclospora, which can contaminate raw produce and causes ferocious and long-lasting bouts of diarrheal illness, is making people sick across several states.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • The Royals beat the Mets 16-12 on Tuesday night in New York in their wildest game of the year.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
  • And the sequence started a wild end to the Dodgers’ first extra-innings game of the season.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • The Yellow Death has disfigured the population, and soldiers in white-and-red tunics serve the savage Duke of Tviot.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Josefowicz, in her decathlon of a performance, brought Ligeti’s savage discontinuities to the surface.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of savage

Browse Nearby Words

predators
predatory
predecease
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Cite this Entry

“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predatory. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of predatory for Spanish Speakers

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