Definitions

predatory

[pred-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈprɛd əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

ADJECTIVE

eating, destroying for sustenance or without conscience

Synonyms

STRONGEST

greedy marauding rapacious voracious

WEAK

bloodthirsty carnivorous depredatory despoiling hungry hunting pillaging plundering predacious predative preying raptorial ravaging ravening thieving vulturine vulturous wolfish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Predatory regimes can also offer some grace to failed icons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

As she wrote in her book "Predatory States: Operation Condor and Covert War in Latin America":

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2024

Predatory viruses known as phages are among their most dire foes, infiltrating their cells to replicate and take over.

From Science Daily • Nov. 15, 2023

Predatory apps can sometimes have fake review scores and even ask users to pay for a subscription service to use the application.

From Washington Times • May 25, 2023

Predatory animals such as wolves, bears, panthers and wild cats exacted a heavy annual toll of young animals.

From Agriculture in Virginia, 1607-1699 by Carrier, Lyman

Vocabulary lists containing predatory

Holes

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And Then There Were None

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Where the Red Fern Grows

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