Predatory
adjective
Relating to or denoting an animal or animals preying naturally on others.
A predatory bird swooped down on its prey.

adjective
Seeking to exploit others.
He had a predatory instinct for a quick profit.

Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Relating to a predatory loan or lenders, which are not fair or legal.
She was warned about predatory lending practices.

Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
adjective
Relating to or denoting an animal or animals preying naturally on others.
A predatory bird swooped down on its prey.

adjective
Seeking to exploit others.
He had a predatory instinct for a quick profit.

Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Relating to a predatory loan or lenders, which are not fair or legal.
She was warned about predatory lending practices.

Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
Definition 1 of 3

Natural Predators
Used to describe animals that hunt others for food in nature.

Documentaries often show the predatory nature of lions in the wild.
Negative Connotation
Often implies a negative aspect of survival, such as aggression or cruelty.

The predatory tactics of the hawk were evident as it stalked its next meal.
Hunting Behavior
Also used metaphorically to describe similar behavior in other contexts.

The company's predatory acquisition strategy left smaller rivals in a vulnerable position.
Natural Predators
Used to describe animals that hunt others for food in nature.

Documentaries often show the predatory nature of lions in the wild.
Negative Connotation
Often implies a negative aspect of survival, such as aggression or cruelty.

The predatory tactics of the hawk were evident as it stalked its next meal.
Hunting Behavior
Also used metaphorically to describe similar behavior in other contexts.

The company's predatory acquisition strategy left smaller rivals in a vulnerable position.
Natural Predators
Used to describe animals that hunt others for food in nature.

Documentaries often show the predatory nature of lions in the wild.
Negative Connotation
Often implies a negative aspect of survival, such as aggression or cruelty.

The predatory tactics of the hawk were evident as it stalked its next meal.
Hunting Behavior
Also used metaphorically to describe similar behavior in other contexts.

The company's predatory acquisition strategy left smaller rivals in a vulnerable position.
Video examples
Rescuing the UK's Rarest...
they're getting plenty enrichment out of and the enclosures we have here are also designed in such a way that they're big enough for things like mice and bowls to get through the gaps and i'm sure they're catching live prayer as well and that's really important because once a wildcat makes that first live kill it's a hunter from then on these guys really do hold on to predatory instincts quite quickly
Video examples
Divers Fight the...
been available for many of our native fish dogs like snapper and grouper that are feeding on similar small bodied reef fishes they're also certainly having a direct predatory impact on many of those small reef fishes and while we don't fish for those species those species perform important ecological services on
Video examples
Nizar Ibrahim: How we...
a predatory dinosaur, bigger than T. rex, the ruler of this ancient river of giants, feeding on the many aquatic animals I showed you earlier on. So that's really what makes this an incredible discovery. It's a dinosaur like no other. And some people told me, "Wow, this is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.
Video examples
Filming the Kung Fu...
stages in an animal's life so we wanted to capture the moment an animal was actually born praying mantises are predatory insects they're very engaging because the way they turn their heads there's something about their eyes it makes you feel like they're following you but of all the
Video examples
Do we really need...
to rid them of pests. There's even evidence from ancient times that we recruited other insects to help. In 300 A.D., Chinese farmers specially bred ferocious predatory ants in orange orchards to protect the trees from other bugs. Later, as large-scale farming spread,
Video examples
Creating job creators PIPE...
by technology which helps more people do more in less time but also we have a situation where we have rising poverty even when there's economic growth because we practice what I term predatory capitalism where we all focus
Video examples
Jesus Christ Lizard PIPE...
territorial male it has nothing to do with the feeding habits of the basilisk which consists primarily of insects and berries this predatory reptile will help reveal the secret as it stalks the young basilisk
Video examples
Beautiful Butterfly...
underground the caterpillar leads a predatory life eating the ants own larvae until one day it's ready to change into a pupa and eventually emerges as one of britain's rarest butterflies
Video examples
Weirdest Animal...
mislaid ant larva is taken back to the nest by the foraging ant workers but it doesn't repay the favor once underground the caterpillar leads a predatory life eating the ants own
Video examples
Discovering Wildlife in...
Oh, no, it's a cat. that was a cat. It's not exactly the wildlife we were looking for. To be fair, though, we're getting quite a lot of predatory mammals tonight.
Video examples
Rescuing the UK's Rarest...
they're getting plenty enrichment out of and the enclosures we have here are also designed in such a way that they're big enough for things like mice and bowls to get through the gaps and i'm sure they're catching live prayer as well and that's really important because once a wildcat makes that first live kill it's a hunter from then on these guys really do hold on to predatory instincts quite quickly
Video examples
Divers Fight the...
been available for many of our native fish dogs like snapper and grouper that are feeding on similar small bodied reef fishes they're also certainly having a direct predatory impact on many of those small reef fishes and while we don't fish for those species those species perform important ecological services on
Video examples
Nizar Ibrahim: How we...
a predatory dinosaur, bigger than T. rex, the ruler of this ancient river of giants, feeding on the many aquatic animals I showed you earlier on. So that's really what makes this an incredible discovery. It's a dinosaur like no other. And some people told me, "Wow, this is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.
Video examples
Filming the Kung Fu...
stages in an animal's life so we wanted to capture the moment an animal was actually born praying mantises are predatory insects they're very engaging because the way they turn their heads there's something about their eyes it makes you feel like they're following you but of all the
Video examples
Do we really need...
to rid them of pests. There's even evidence from ancient times that we recruited other insects to help. In 300 A.D., Chinese farmers specially bred ferocious predatory ants in orange orchards to protect the trees from other bugs. Later, as large-scale farming spread,
Video examples
Creating job creators PIPE...
by technology which helps more people do more in less time but also we have a situation where we have rising poverty even when there's economic growth because we practice what I term predatory capitalism where we all focus
Video examples
Jesus Christ Lizard PIPE...
territorial male it has nothing to do with the feeding habits of the basilisk which consists primarily of insects and berries this predatory reptile will help reveal the secret as it stalks the young basilisk
Video examples
Beautiful Butterfly...
underground the caterpillar leads a predatory life eating the ants own larvae until one day it's ready to change into a pupa and eventually emerges as one of britain's rarest butterflies
Video examples
Weirdest Animal...
mislaid ant larva is taken back to the nest by the foraging ant workers but it doesn't repay the favor once underground the caterpillar leads a predatory life eating the ants own
Video examples
Discovering Wildlife in...
Oh, no, it's a cat. that was a cat. It's not exactly the wildlife we were looking for. To be fair, though, we're getting quite a lot of predatory mammals tonight.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Henry Giroux
American Critic
Life is now a war zone, and as such, the number of people considered disposable has grown exponentially, and this includes low income whites, poor minorities, immigrants, the unemployed, the homeless, and a range of people who are viewed as a liability to capital and its endless predatory quest for power and profits.

Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
In Kosovo, the U.S. has chosen a course of action that escalates atrocities and violence. It is also a course of action that strikes a blow against the regime of international order, but which offers the weak at least some protection from predatory states.

Quote examples
George Monbiot
British Writer
On my first night at boarding school, I felt entirely alone. I was shocked, frightened and intensely homesick, but I soon discovered that expressing these emotions, instead of bringing help and consolation, attracted a gloating, predatory fascination.

Quote examples
Thomas Perry
German Musician
The characters you refer to as predatory and unsavory are useful. They're the ones who make a novel into a thriller. They're active, and most of the common virtues, the signs of a good person, are not.

Quote examples
Stephen A. Schwarzman
American Businessman
As the world has become more predatory and aggressive, my impression is that the investment banking business has moved from being relationship-oriented to being increasingly transaction-oriented.

Quote examples
Sanam Saeed
Pakistani Actress
I wouldn't want to take the late night subway in the U.S. or go for a late night stroll in the U.K. Women feel insecure anywhere in the world where they may become victims of predatory behavior.

Quote examples
Pramila Jayapal
American Politician
There's nothing normal about graduating with massive student debt, where you live in fear of predatory debt collectors and wage garnishers even as you are starting to live your life.

Quote examples
Jacqueline Novogratz
American Businesswoman
I dream a world in no one feels the need for or fear of predatory behavior, in which each of us walks with the knowledge of how beautiful - and valuable - is each human life.

Quote examples
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Lebanese Scientist
The mortgage crisis is a clear instance of consumers who needed protection. There was predatory lending to people who didn't know what they were doing.

Quote examples
Josh Rosen
American Athlete
My father has fought to protect people from predatory pharmaceutical companies and to make sure drug payments and kickbacks to doctors are disclosed.

Quote examples
Henry Giroux
American Critic
Life is now a war zone, and as such, the number of people considered disposable has grown exponentially, and this includes low income whites, poor minorities, immigrants, the unemployed, the homeless, and a range of people who are viewed as a liability to capital and its endless predatory quest for power and profits.

Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
In Kosovo, the U.S. has chosen a course of action that escalates atrocities and violence. It is also a course of action that strikes a blow against the regime of international order, but which offers the weak at least some protection from predatory states.

Quote examples
George Monbiot
British Writer
On my first night at boarding school, I felt entirely alone. I was shocked, frightened and intensely homesick, but I soon discovered that expressing these emotions, instead of bringing help and consolation, attracted a gloating, predatory fascination.

Quote examples
Thomas Perry
German Musician
The characters you refer to as predatory and unsavory are useful. They're the ones who make a novel into a thriller. They're active, and most of the common virtues, the signs of a good person, are not.

Quote examples
Stephen A. Schwarzman
American Businessman
As the world has become more predatory and aggressive, my impression is that the investment banking business has moved from being relationship-oriented to being increasingly transaction-oriented.

Quote examples
Sanam Saeed
Pakistani Actress
I wouldn't want to take the late night subway in the U.S. or go for a late night stroll in the U.K. Women feel insecure anywhere in the world where they may become victims of predatory behavior.

Quote examples
Pramila Jayapal
American Politician
There's nothing normal about graduating with massive student debt, where you live in fear of predatory debt collectors and wage garnishers even as you are starting to live your life.

Quote examples
Jacqueline Novogratz
American Businesswoman
I dream a world in no one feels the need for or fear of predatory behavior, in which each of us walks with the knowledge of how beautiful - and valuable - is each human life.

Quote examples
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Lebanese Scientist
The mortgage crisis is a clear instance of consumers who needed protection. There was predatory lending to people who didn't know what they were doing.

Quote examples
Josh Rosen
American Athlete
My father has fought to protect people from predatory pharmaceutical companies and to make sure drug payments and kickbacks to doctors are disclosed.

Example 1 of 10
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