Definition of predatorynext
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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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 predatory The bulk of these predatory lawsuits are filed by a small number of serial litigants and a handful of law firms, including San Diego firm Potter Handy and Manning Law in Orange County. Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026 The bill’s backers say the legislation would protect name, image and likeness earnings for players, keep in place the current revenue framework from the House settlement, and prevent athletes from predatory NIL and recruiting deals. Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 28 May 2026 As such, their predatory behavior favors patience and short bursts of efficiency over endurance. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 However, a mounting number of lawsuits claim the platform has failed to protect young users from exploitation, harmful content and predatory behavior. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for predatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predatory
Adjective
  • Not the timeless myths of rapacious, demonic women or saintly self-sacrificial mothers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
  • Is no one else bothered by the rapacious greed?
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Extra deployments, additional monitoring of cameras, more intelligence sharing and even drone deployments are part of an aggressive, proactive approach in an elevated threat environment, officials say.
    Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
  • But the World Cup presents a challenge for an administration that has placed aggressive immigration enforcement at the top of its agenda.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 June 2026
Adjective
  • These food-crops also benefit from the work performed by predaceous insects that control populations of crop-eating invertebrates.
    Bruce Beehler, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Biological control: Parasitic wasps, predaceous beetles and birds assist in lowering sawfly populations.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In essence, the shrimp stores elastic energy inside the specialized raptorial limb, and a latch holds the limb in place while the muscles continue loading tension.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
  • The front pair of legs is raptorial, meaning they are used for catching and grasping prey.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Japan has long been battling a growing bear problem with deadly attacks reached record levels last fall.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
  • Prosecutors contend the evidence shows Anthony escalated a verbal dispute into a deadly encounter.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Fires ravaged the ballpark’s left-field bleachers in May 1926, and a tornado’s ferocious winds tore through additional sections of seats that July, and ownership could not afford to renovate.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
  • Noisy, ebullient, ferocious and free, Dance!
    SPIN Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Several of the incidents took place in the mountains, with some people injured while out foraging for wild plants and vegetables.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
  • The 27-year-old tailback was the Broncos’ offensive MVP over the first 10 weeks of a wild, wacky 2025.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Their twiggy legs and bony frames exposed in bathing suits, the kids do indeed look extra vulnerable within the film’s savage landscape.
    Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 25 May 2026
  • Sure, sci-fi can be bleak — there's no end to the cosmic horrors and savage alien races that game developers can conjure up — but that almost always comes as a result of humanity's success in space.
    Ian Stokes, Space.com, 24 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Predatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predatory. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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