Predatory animals live by killing other animals for food.
...predatory birds like the eagle.
Synonyms: hunting, ravening, carnivorous, rapacious More Synonyms of predatory
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Predatory people or organizations are eager to gain something out of someone else's weakness or suffering.
People who run small businesses are frightened by the predatory behaviour of thebanks.
More Synonyms of predatory
predatory in British English
(ˈprɛdətərɪ, -trɪ)
adjective
1. zoology another word for predacious (sense 1)
2.
of, involving, or characterized by plundering, robbing, etc
Derived forms
predatorily (ˈpredatorily)
adverb
predatoriness (ˈpredatoriness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin praedātōrius rapacious, from praedārī to pillage, from praeda booty
predatory in American English
(ˈprɛdəˌtɔri)
adjective
1.
of, living by, or characterized by plundering, robbing, or exploiting others
2.
living by capturing and feeding upon other animals; predacious
Derived forms
predatorily (ˈpredaˌtorily)
adverb
predatoriness (ˈpredaˌtoriness)
noun
Word origin
L praedatorius < praeda, prey
Examples of 'predatory' in a sentence
predatory
His physical presence and predatory instinct could see a top-flight chance soon for the Blues.
The Sun (2016)
He said:'This predatory behaviour is a concern to parents.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The club are equally proud of deflecting interest from predatory clubs in their own young players.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is regularly the subject of rumours about predatory interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yet give him a sniff of goal and the old predatory instincts kick in.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That has brought accusations of predatory behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But the most striking shot of all is an owl protecting its young from a predatory bird.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
An alternative explanation might be a lack of predatory birds and bats.
Oliver Morton Eating the Sun: How Plants Power the Planet (2007)
But almost always from both there is evidence that fiercely alert predatory instinct is allied with genuine virtuosity.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Lost none of his predatory instincts.
The Sun (2011)
Last night the 31-year-old at least proved his predatory instincts are not lost.
The Sun (2014)
He's got the athleticism and predatory instincts.
The Sun (2015)
Flying machine with predatory instincts.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But his extended spell off the field had not starved him of his predatory instincts because he found the corner with a crisp half-volley.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He meant it in terms of his predatory instinct, his movement in the box, but it came to stand for something else.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is predatory behaviour and I don't consider myself a predator.
The Sun (2010)
A few of these predatory birds come to Britain from northern Europe each winter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
One of the unusual aspects of the attacks in Egypt is that a single shark appears to have changed its predatory behaviour radically, to include humans.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
At night, the sound of predatory birds is played through hidden loudspeakers in the main square, so that sparrows do not soil the casino lawn.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
At night, the sound of predatory birds is played through hidden loudspeakers in themain square so that sparrows do not soil the casino's famous lawn.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
predatory
British English: predatory ADJECTIVE
Predatory animals live by killing other animals for food.
...predatory birds like the eagle.
American English: predatory
Brazilian Portuguese: predatório
Chinese: 食肉的
European Spanish: depredador
French: prédateur
German: Raub-
Italian: predatore
Japanese: 捕食性の
Korean: 약탈하는
European Portuguese: predatório
Latin American Spanish: depredador
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of animals) habitually hunting and killing other animals for food
predatory birds like the eagle
Synonyms
hunting
ravening
carnivorous
rapacious
raptorial
predacious
2 (adjective)
predatory gangs
Synonyms
plundering
ravaging
pillaging
marauding
marauding gangs of armed men
thieving
despoiling
3 (adjective)
Definition
eager to gain at the expense of others
predatory business practices
Synonyms
rapacious
He had a rapacious appetite for bird's nest soup.
greedy
He attacked greedy bosses for awarding themselves big pay rises.
voracious
He was a voracious reader.
vulturous
vulturine
Additional synonyms
in the sense of greedy
Definition
having an excessive desire for something, such as food or money
He attacked greedy bosses for awarding themselves big pay rises.