as in rapacious
living by killing and eating other animals
hawks are predatory and pose a danger to rabbits and other pets
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Recent Examples of predatory
The expedition began finding examples of predatory behavior almost immediately, starting with mystery bones seen on the first dive March 2.
—
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Many large predatory fish, including sharks, avoid extreme low-oxygen zones, while some species — like whale sharks — may be better adapted to tolerate them.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
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
The department is currently in charge of federal student loan programs as well as financial aid and protections against predatory lending practices.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predatory
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Many large predatory fish, including sharks, avoid extreme low-oxygen zones, while some species — like whale sharks — may be better adapted to tolerate them.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
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
The department is currently in charge of federal student loan programs as well as financial aid and protections against predatory lending practices.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for predatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predatory
Adjective
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But providing that service shouldn’t require charging rapacious fees that exploit the most financially vulnerable.—
Jemima McEvoy,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Of abuse and coercion by rapacious family members eager to get their hands on an inheritance.—
Teri Sforza,
Orange County Register,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The prison has become a symbol of Bukele's aggressive policies that have targeted gang violence.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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Young has struggled against the Heat’s aggressive defense in recent years.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Biological control: Parasitic wasps, predaceous beetles and birds assist in lowering sawfly populations.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
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Look for and conserve natural enemies such as predaceous bugs, lacewings, lady beetles, and syrphids.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Villegas pushed for the original measure after dangerous speeding and red-light running by raptorial tow drivers ended in a nearly catastrophic crash in his ward that saw a bus that had been hit by a tow truck plow through a storefront.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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Detailed testimonies of refugees along the Balkan route therefore challenge the conventional wisdom that officials tend to protect them from raptorial smugglers.—
Max Abrahms,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Mar. 2017
Adjective
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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what led to the deadly incident.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Trump has attempted to crack down on pro-Palestinian campus protests against U.S. ally Israel's devastating military assault on Gaza, which has caused a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and followed a deadly October 2023 attack by Islamist group Hamas.—
Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This behavior mimics their wild ancestors, who would ambush prey from above or perch in trees to avoid danger.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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Monday night’s draft commences the 2025 WNBA campaign, which comes on the heels of an all-time wild offseason.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Bravo’s family said the 28-year-old was ending a violent relationship.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Adams said the pair had discussed how to combat violent migrant gangs and embedding more New York Police Department officers into federal task forces.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There’s scenario No. 1: Either Carter, a ferocious All-American pass rusher, or Hunter, a generational wide receiver-cornerback hybrid, is available, and the Patriots can add a premium talent at a position of need in what can only be described as a front-office dream.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2025
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In other words, if Instagram had even somewhat appeared as a future threat to Facebook or Facebook’s competition, there would have been a ferocious bidding war for Instagram that would have pushed its purchase price far, far above $1 billion.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predatory. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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