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
Using the Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have captured a stunning image of a glowing nebula in the Milky Way that resembles a vast cosmic hawk swooping down on its prey.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026
California condors, or prey-go-neesh in Yurok, have been spiritually tied to the Yurok Hlkelonah, the 6,500-member tribe's cultural and ecological landscape, since time immemorial.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Every few seconds, the wolf almost imperceptibly shifts its head, as if scanning the horizon for predators or prey.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, many of these books’ characters are portrayed as avatars of resentment and disaffection, men who seem to fall prey to the rigid vision of masculinity dispensed by real-life adherents to the manosphere.
—Eric Magnuson, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026
California condors, or prey-go-neesh in Yurok, have been spiritually tied to the Yurok Hlkelonah, the 6,500-member tribe's cultural and ecological landscape, since time immemorial.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Every few seconds, the wolf almost imperceptibly shifts its head, as if scanning the horizon for predators or prey.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, many of these books’ characters are portrayed as avatars of resentment and disaffection, men who seem to fall prey to the rigid vision of masculinity dispensed by real-life adherents to the manosphere.
—Eric Magnuson, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
-
Common to lakes, rivers, and blue holes in Texas Hill Country and Central Texas, clearer, bluer waters can most often be attributed to the abundance of natural deposits and quarries of limestone that are native to the area.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
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The roof of his celebrated Restaurant Mestizo, also in the capital city, is supported by huge load-bearing stones from a local quarry; his Pite House, a residence in nearby Papudo, sits nestled on a cliffside that shelters it from prevailing winds.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But many of the workers also presented themselves as victims of racially motivated government policies.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Crump is known for representing relatives of victims of high-profile police brutality cases.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The new Type-12, however, would provide Japan with counter-strike or pre-emptive strike capabilities to hit targets from its shores.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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The home team outshot the Summit 20-6, including a 6-2 edge in shots on target.—
Harold Gutmann,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Schlossnagle's mustache was a casualty of a late-game implosion by the Texas bullpen against Ole Miss (16-3).—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Mar. 2026
-
There were no reports of casualties.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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