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
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
That subsequently caused a crash in those species’ main prey — like small fish and small sharks — according to research published in Frontiers in Marine Science earlier this year.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
The Bills often fall prey to the run.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025
While scientists had previously seen orcas attack great whites, the killer whales mainly targeted adults, both for a larger meal and to get rid of competition for the same prey.
—Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey
Noun
The technique is used to temporarily paralyze the shark, enabling the whales to extract the prey’s liver.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
That subsequently caused a crash in those species’ main prey — like small fish and small sharks — according to research published in Frontiers in Marine Science earlier this year.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
The Bills often fall prey to the run.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025
While scientists had previously seen orcas attack great whites, the killer whales mainly targeted adults, both for a larger meal and to get rid of competition for the same prey.
—Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
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Former houses were demolished and repurposed into quarries, graveyards and workshops.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Drinking beers with everyone in this restaurant at this hotel, and going to a quarry and swimming with Brad and (executive producer) Mark Roybal.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Some analysts argue that while Christians have been targeted by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups seeking to impose their extreme interpretation of Islamic law, Muslims, including those considered moderate, have also been victims of those groups.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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According to the investigators' notes, the victims left a sliding door open on the night of the attack for Goncalves' dog, who was found unharmed in her bed.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Nvidia did not disclose any financial investment, timeline, or training targets, and did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
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Advertisement As the world fails to meet its 2025 Paris Agreement target, climate leaders from across industries are working overtime to make up for the lack of global governmental action.—
Erin McMullen,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Britain ultimately lost not only because of Washington’s extraordinary tenacity in the war’s several mainland theaters, but also because the king’s men had to stage long sieges, wage desperate naval battles, and take mounting casualties on too many other fronts spread too far apart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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While casualties include both Christians and Muslims, and most Boko Haram and ISWAP operations take place in majority-Muslim areas, both groups often emphasize the targeting of Christians in their respective messaging.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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