PREDATORY Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

predatory

adjective

ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē

Definition of predatory

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

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 The Vampyre, on the other hand, can be surfaced in conversations around the predatory nature of ruling classes. — Maria Papadouris, JSTOR Daily, 20 Oct. 2026 Gaps in oversight Weak oversight has allowed these predatory schemes to persist in California. — Ilan Shrira, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 The governor’s framework rightfully makes stopping this kind of predatory chatbot behavior a priority. — Matt Post, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026 That’s why Meta has agreed to pay up to eighteen billion dollars as part of a settlement over predatory and deceptive practices, and why Anthropic is paying writers and publishers (admittedly, pennies) in a copyright settlement. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for predatory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for predatory

Adjective

Meanwhile, Hester is fighting her own rapacious and unreasonable enemy in a parallel drama that never folds into the main plot.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026
The mythical image of the chivalrous mobster offered a way to ease the humiliating memory of losing the war and carried a nationalist charge, exploited in movies set amid black markets, rapacious Americans, and panpan girls.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of rapacious

Adjective

The son of a onetime Republican who worked for President Ronald Reagan, Colom garnered attention for his aggressive campaign as Democrats widened the Senate battleground map and Hyde-Smith's vulnerabilities crystallized.

— BILL BARROW, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
In an October report, Goldman Sachs observed that intense competition and aggressive discounting by global brands had dominated the retail landscape.

— Denni Hu, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 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

Given the absence of venom, the researchers propose that these arachnids likely use strong raptorial pedipalps (claw-like appendages).

— Jay Kakade July 13, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
These predators patrol, stalk and swiftly capture their prey with raptorial front legs.

— Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026

Definition of raptorial

Adjective

Putin chose to perpetrate one of his deadliest and most damaging attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure at the very moment American media was singularly focused on election results.

— Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
The Egyptian railway system, the oldest in Africa and the Middle East, has a long history of deadly accidents.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of deadly

Adjective

The rising, warming sea and ferocious winter storms have battered the road.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
One of the most celebrated objects from the India Museum is a mechanical wooden sculpture of a ferocious tiger gnawing at a British soldier’s throat.

— Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of ferocious

Adjective

The Colts have been engaged in trade discussions with players like Jonathan Taylor and Josh Downs after dealing Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner to kick off what many expect to be a wild trade deadline period.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Representations of fauna include horses, deer, wild oxen, and at least one bear, though identification is difficult due to the limited depiction of details such as eyes, nostrils, hooves, manes, and coats.

— News Desk, Artforum, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of wild

Adjective

Reducing Gulliver’s Travels to only a topsy-turvy tale of humans both tiny and massive is to ignore the savage intellect that penned its words.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
In ancient, supposedly more savage times, public killings were common.

— Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of savage

Browse Nearby Words

predators

predatory

predecease

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“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predatory. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of predatory

adjective

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