Synonyms of prey

prey

noun

ˈprā 

1

as in quarry

an animal that is hunted or killed

rabbits are common prey for owls and hawks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quarry
• creature
• chase
• target
• victim
• beast
• game
• kill
• critter
• brute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• predator
• hunter
• killer
• murderer
• carnivore
• pursuer
• chaser

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

• victim
• casualty
• fatality
• loss
• sacrifice
• loser
• underdog
• martyr
• collateral damage
• murderee

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• winner
• victor
• gainer
• killer
• murderer
• assassin
• injurer
• harmer

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

• target
• victim
• butt
• sitting duck
• mark
• mockery
• goat
• scapegoat
• laughingstock
• lightning rod
• pilgarlic
• fall guy
• whipping boy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gossip
• troublemaker
• tattler
• tormentor
• gossiper
• tattletale
• talebearer
• defamer
• traducer
• torturer
• tease
• libeler
• teaser
• taunter
• baiter
• needler
• mocker
• heckler
• scorner
• insulter
• scoffer
• ribber
• satirist
• libelist
• caricaturist
• parodist
• lampooner
• derider
• ridiculer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of prey

As its common name suggests, the giant huntsman spider actively hunts its prey, and its diet includes insects as well as small rodents and reptiles. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026

Rattlesnakes fill an important niche in the area’s ecosystem by targeting prey that other predators cannot access. — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026

That allowed sea water to infiltrate freshwater tributaries across the peninsula, especially in lagoons and deltas where clam and mussel farms provided ample prey. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Dolphins are versatile predators that adjust their diet based on local prey availability, Callan said. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing prey

• prey (on or upon)