adjective
Uncommon
predatory
PREH-duht-ree
Predatory (adjective) means living by hunting and killing other animals for food. Example: “Sharks are predatory fish found in every ocean.”
adjective
1
Living by hunting and killing other animals for food.
"The mark of his father’s early life was strong upon him and enhanced by months of association with beasts, from whom the imitative faculty of youth had absorbed a countless number of little mannerisms of the predatory creatures of the wild."
— , Edgar Rice Burroughs (1915)
"Sharks are predatory fish found in every ocean."
2
Exploiting others unfairly for personal gain.
"The bank was accused of predatory lending practices targeting low-income families."
"He remembered sitting quietly during visiting hours, not knowing what words of support to offer, and having to deal with predatory reporters who wanted to interview and photograph "the victim and the devoted lover.""
— Craig G. Harris, Cut Off from Among Their People (1986)
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.
Common pairings
predatory lending
predatory behavior
predatory instinct
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more predatory
- Superlative
- most predatory
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.
