predatory
Predatory (adjective) means living by hunting and killing other animals for food. Example: “Sharks are predatory fish found in every ocean.”
How to Use Predatory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActing like a predator — either an animal that hunts prey, or a person or business that takes ruthless advantage of vulnerable people.
Word Forms
more predatory comparative, most predatory superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Sharks are _____ fish found in every ocean.
Etymology
From Latin praedatorius, formed the same way as predator plus -y.
Rhymes for predatory
See all rhymes for predatory →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “predatory” mean?
The word “predatory” means living by hunting and killing other animals for food. In plain terms, acting like a predator — either an animal that hunts prey, or a person or business that takes ruthless advantage of vulnerable people.
How do you pronounce “predatory”?
“Predatory” is pronounced PREH-duht-ree (/ˈpɹɛdəˌtɔɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “predatory” in a sentence?
Here is “predatory” used in a sentence: “Sharks are predatory fish found in every ocean.”
What part of speech is “predatory”?
“Predatory” is an adjective.
Where does the word “predatory” come from?
The word “predatory” comes from Latin. From Latin praedatorius, formed the same way as predator plus -y.
Is “predatory” a common word?
“Predatory” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “predatory” have?
“Predatory” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: living by hunting and killing other animals for food.