preyed (on or upon) 1 of 2

past tense of prey (on or upon)
as in fed (on, upon, or off)
to seize and eat (something) as prey a fox has been preying on the chickens

Synonyms & Similar Words

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preyed (on or upon)

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preyed (on or upon)
Adjective
  • The unarmed man allegedly fought back during the confrontation, but he was eventually subdued.
    Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2025
  • The program, designed to provide unarmed aid to those suffering mental-health crises, diverted 34% of emergency calls last year, a staggering increase.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • In July, the city construction board declared the house an unsafe structure and gave the owners five days to fix the situation.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 25 July 2025
  • Playing in unsafe heat can cause immense stress to the body.
    Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Preyed (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preyed%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.

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