prey

noun

ˈprā How to pronounce prey (audio)
Definition of preynext
1
as in quarry
an animal that is hunted or killed rabbits are common prey for owls and hawks

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prey Baitfish and other prey nose down on the bottom and dig for their food. — Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025 The increase of humpback whale songs is also consistent with their ability to switch between dominant prey. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2025 On the prey side, evidence has been found that the scales on some moths’ wings absorb sound waves from predatory bats to keep them from echolocation to find them. — Tim Stevens, Ars Technica, 22 Feb. 2025 But that is a small price to pay compared to your child falling prey to an online predator. — Jann Blackstone, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
  1. quarry
  2. victim
  3. target
  4. casualty
Noun
  • For months residents have been protesting the quarry expansion.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
  • In 2023, a worker at a limestone quarry in southeast England came across some unusual bumps while stripping back clay with his vehicle to expose the quarry floor.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Definition of quarry
Noun
  • Authorities struggled to identify and process all of the victims.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Paying ransoms does not guarantee a return to normal business operations, and 35% of victims who paid a ransom, according to the in-house analysis of data, either did not receive decryption keys or received corrupted keys.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of victim
Noun
  • Not exactly the target audience for the books, but within spitting distance of it.
    — Lizz Schumer, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Dozens of targets were chosen, based on Hamas readiness to execute terror attacks, and build up and re-arm its forces.
    — Louis Casiano, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of target
Noun
  • No casualties were recorded during this intrusion, and no radio station employees were present at the scene.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Other names that made it to Morgan Stanley’s list include timberland real estate investment trust Rayonier , which has a dividend yield of 4%; property casualty insurer RLI , with a dividend yield of 0.8%; and CNA Financial , with a 3.8% current dividend yield.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of casualty

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Cite this Entry

“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prey

Nglish: Translation of prey for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prey

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