- of, living by, or characterized by plundering, robbing, or ruthlessly exploiting others
- living by capturing and feeding upon other animals; predacious
Origin of predatory
Classical Latin praedatorius from praeda, prey
Red-tailed hawks are predatory birds that hunt small mammals such as mice, rabbits and ground squirrels.
- Lenders that try to trick the poor into taking bad loans are an example of predatory lenders.
- A hawk is an example of a predatory bird.
The definition of predatory is living by harming, robbing or hunting others.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"predatory." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory>.
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predatory. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory
predatory
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"predatory." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory>.
APA Style
predatory. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory
predatory
adjective
- Living or characterized by preying on other animals: a predatory insect; predatory instincts.
- a. Living or characterized by plundering, pillaging, or marauding.b. Living or characterized by the exploitation of others for personal gain: predatory business practices.
Origin of predatory
Latin praedātōrius plundering from praedārī to plunder from praeda booty ; see ghend- in Indo-European roots.Related Forms:
- pred′a·to′ri·ly
adverb
- pred′a·to′ri·ness
noun
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"predatory." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory>.
APA Style
predatory. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory
Adjective
(comparative more predatory, superlative most predatory)
- Of, or relating to a predator.
- Living by preying on other living animals.
- (figuratively) Exploiting or victimizing others for personal gain.
Anagrams
Origin
From Latin praedatorius.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"predatory." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory>.
APA Style
predatory. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/predatory
Sentence Examples
- His predatory smile made her pulse fly.
- The predatory smile crossed his face.
- His predatory gaze was on her.
- He resigned the office of guardian, and betook himself again to a wandering life and a desultory and predatory warfare against the English.
- Five sets of predatory eyes fell to her, as if realizing there was a lame lamb in their midst.
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