predatory
9 synonyms for predatory, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Living by hunting and killing other animals for food.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use predatory
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
predatory lending
predatory behavior
predatory instinct
Etymology
From Latin praedatorius, formed the same way as predator plus -y.
Full origin of 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.
