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
Ultimately, though, the play is less about the characters than the arc of history and the direct line between the avarice of colonialism and the predatory capitalism of today.
—
Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
Sheetz now comes to the Court asking it to confirm the role of the Takings Clause in securing one’s right to build on property free of predatory conditions by the government.
—Larry Salzman, National Review, 9 Jan. 2024
Democrats were unanimously opposed to Mnuchin, pointing to his allegedly predatory track record of foreclosing on California homeowners while serving as OneWest Bank’s CEO.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
The lack of accessible LLC ownership information should not give bad actors cover to shield themselves from liability and profit from predatory business models.
—Suzanne Dershowitz, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
Orcas Have Social Trends Like Us, And This One Could Get Dangerous For Boats
A Changing Ecosystem
Understanding orca's predatory behaviors will help experts know how to conserve marine ecosystems and adapt to new conservation strategies.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
This legislation was needed urgently last year, as the 2023 lending downturn sparked an uptick in unregulated alternative lending, much of which is predatory, hiding exorbitant interest rates, some as high as 358%, behind promises of fast cash.
—Carolina Martinez, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Owner-operators bear a disproportionate share of the risks and costs: fuel, maintenance, and insurance all fall on the driver, and lease agreements are often predatory.
—Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Apple is wary of how predatory payment techniques, mobile ransomware and consumer spyware could be focused on the iPhone if it’s deemed to be more vulnerable or less secure.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
Sheetz now comes to the Court asking it to confirm the role of the Takings Clause in securing one’s right to build on property free of predatory conditions by the government.
—Larry Salzman, National Review, 9 Jan. 2024
Democrats were unanimously opposed to Mnuchin, pointing to his allegedly predatory track record of foreclosing on California homeowners while serving as OneWest Bank’s CEO.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
The lack of accessible LLC ownership information should not give bad actors cover to shield themselves from liability and profit from predatory business models.
—Suzanne Dershowitz, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
Orcas Have Social Trends Like Us, And This One Could Get Dangerous For Boats
A Changing Ecosystem
Understanding orca's predatory behaviors will help experts know how to conserve marine ecosystems and adapt to new conservation strategies.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
This legislation was needed urgently last year, as the 2023 lending downturn sparked an uptick in unregulated alternative lending, much of which is predatory, hiding exorbitant interest rates, some as high as 358%, behind promises of fast cash.
—Carolina Martinez, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Owner-operators bear a disproportionate share of the risks and costs: fuel, maintenance, and insurance all fall on the driver, and lease agreements are often predatory.
—Emily Gogolak, Harper's Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
Apple is wary of how predatory payment techniques, mobile ransomware and consumer spyware could be focused on the iPhone if it’s deemed to be more vulnerable or less secure.
—David Phelan, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'predatory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near predatory
Cite this Entry
“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predatory. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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