1
2
as in victim
a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed
he fell prey to nagging—but groundless—doubts about his wife's fidelity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in target
a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule
that woman has a sharp tongue, and her favored prey is her long-suffering husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prey
Angèle, the makeup artist, has been writing a real-life account of her observations at work, and her writings apostrophize the action, most extensively during a climactic scene in which the staging of the runway show falls prey to bad weather.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
The latest celebs to fall prey to the romance rumor mill?
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
On this occasion, against all odds, Erling Haaland’s prey escaped him.
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
At the latter speed the animal’s turning radius would be 52 meters, and a 180-degree turn would take six seconds complete, far too long and much too slow to be of any use in capturing a quick-turning prey.
—
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
The latest celebs to fall prey to the romance rumor mill?
—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
On this occasion, against all odds, Erling Haaland’s prey escaped him.
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
At the latter speed the animal’s turning radius would be 52 meters, and a 180-degree turn would take six seconds complete, far too long and much too slow to be of any use in capturing a quick-turning prey.
—
Literary Hub,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
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Next month Ramsay and her family will return to the quarry to lay fresh flowers on her son’s anniversary.
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Lime Kiln Theater combines all three of those characteristics, offering an annual summer lineup of live performances at its legendary outdoor venue (an old limestone quarry and kiln).
Noun
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The families of the victims said the pain is still as raw to this day.
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Most of the victims lived nearby, and funeral prayers were expected later Tuesday.
Noun
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The Angels’ lucky Pikachu might not be a trade target going into the deadline.
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Spurs have approached this summer window with a determination to back their head coach, and to be ruthless and decisive in their pursuit of targets.
Noun
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New reads abound for your vacation tote throughout the weeks of July, with fiction picks featuring a Carnival cruise casualty, a highly entertaining jewel heist at the Waldorf-Astoria, and a Soviet-era madcap adventure.
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Ukrainian forces have suffered 525,000 to 625,000 casualties, including 125,000 to 150,000 deaths, the study said.
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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