predatory
UK /ˈpɹɛdət(ə)ɹi/ · US /ˈpɹɛdəˌtɔɹi/ adjective
Forms prædatory
- adjective Of, or relating to a predator.
- adjective Living by preying on other living animals.
- adjective (figuratively) Exploiting or victimizing others for personal gain. “predatory lending”
Synonyms
predaceous predacious marauding raiding rapacious raptorial ravening vulturine vulturous
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin praedātōrius, equivalent to predator + -y.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party. "A predatory war." Macaulay.
- adjective Hungry; ravenous; as, predatory spirits. [Obs.]
Etymology [L. praedatorius, fr. praedari to plunder, fr. praeda prey. See Prey.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “predatory”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details