predatory
adjective
pred·a·to·ry
ˈpre-də-ˌtȯr-ē 
1
a
: of, relating to, or practicing plunder, pillage, or rapine
b
: inclined or intended to injure or exploit others for personal gain or profit
predatory pricing practices
2
: living by predation : predaceous
also
: adapted to predation
Examples of predatory in a Sentence
Hawks are predatory and may pose a danger to rabbits and other small pets.
The company made millions for investors but clearly engaged in predatory lending practices.
Recent Examples on the Web
Critics argue that a cap could restrict credit availability to higher-risk consumers, potentially driving them toward less regulated, more predatory lending practices.
—
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Still, with moves to curtail if not shutter the CFPB, the Trump administration signals a reluctance to rein in potentially harmful or predatory behavior on the part of big banks, says Hamrick.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025
Instead of predatory rent-to-own contracts, there is homeownership.
—John Hope Bryant, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
Scorpions are not typically found in the Boston area but over 2,000 species of the predatory arachnids exist worldwide, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predatory
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Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Still, with moves to curtail if not shutter the CFPB, the Trump administration signals a reluctance to rein in potentially harmful or predatory behavior on the part of big banks, says Hamrick.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025
Instead of predatory rent-to-own contracts, there is homeownership.
—John Hope Bryant, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
Scorpions are not typically found in the Boston area but over 2,000 species of the predatory arachnids exist worldwide, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predatory
Cite this Entry
“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predatory. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predatory
adjective
pred·a·to·ry
ˈpred-ə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
1
: of, relating to, or marked by robbing or using others for personal gain
predatory raids
2
: living by predation
predatory animals
Legal Definition
predatory
adjective
pred·a·to·ry
ˈpre-də-ˌtōr-ē
1
: inclined or intended to injure competitors by unfair means
subject to antitrust liability for predatory conduct—National Law Journal
National Law Journalpredatory bidding
2
: inclined or intended to injure or exploit others for personal gain or profit
predatory loans
3
: of or relating to a sexual predator
predatory assault
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