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
Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Grizzly bears, which can kill and eat large prey like elk and moose, often weigh twice as much as black bears, have larger claws and are considerably more aggressive.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Octopuses are adept at problem solving and hiding themselves from prey.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 8 May 2026
In fact, the bacterial load of a dragon’s mouth is comparable to that of other lizards and to the bodies of their prey.
—Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Noun
There was a softness about them, regularly falling prey to predatory Premier League attackers.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Grizzly bears, which can kill and eat large prey like elk and moose, often weigh twice as much as black bears, have larger claws and are considerably more aggressive.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Octopuses are adept at problem solving and hiding themselves from prey.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 8 May 2026
In fact, the bacterial load of a dragon’s mouth is comparable to that of other lizards and to the bodies of their prey.
—Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
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The city of Gary is ready to begin conversations about repurposing an about 114-acre former quarry, said Brenda Scott-Henry, director of sustainability and environmental affairs.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
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Such stars are the key quarry that JWST was designed for—stellar orbs composed of the pristine, primordial hydrogen and helium gas that was summoned into being by the big bang.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Employing a cast of non-professional locals, the film playfully interrogates the brutal but bungled occupation while also allowing its actors — many of whom are descendants of the fascists’ victims — to reinterpret and reclaim a chapter in their city’s past.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Not the only victim The Miami-Dade case is not the only time Readon has been accused by investigators of defrauding homeowners.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The group blamed both the army and RSF and said some drones use visual monitoring technology capable of distinguishing targets, raising concerns that the attacks may not have been indiscriminate.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
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Barca’s No 1 forward target is Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who club sources believe would be keen to join, while recognising negotiations with Atletico could be very tough.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Despite the lack of casualties, the incident sparked an uproar, as the government’s response was considered delayed and inadequate.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
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The Ziesel platform originally entered development as a support vehicle for transport and casualty evacuation missions.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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