predatory

UK: /ˈprɛdətəri/ US: /ˈprɛdəˌtɔri/ ,(pred′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pred•a•to•ry /ˈprɛdəˌtɔri/   adj. 

1. Animal Behavior of or relating to predators:
   Predatory gangs roamed the streets.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pred•a•to•ry  (pred′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj. 

1. Animal Behavior [Zool.] preying upon other organisms for food.
2. of, pertaining to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, robbery, or exploitation:
   predatory tactics.
3. engaging in or living by these activities:
   predatory bands of brigands.
4. excessive or exploitive in amount or cost, as out of greed or to take advantage of consumers or patrons:
   predatory pricing.
5. acting with or possessed by overbearing, rapacious, or selfish motives:
   He was cornered at the party by a predatory reporter.

• Latin praedātōrius. See predator, -tory¹
• 1580–90

pred′a•to′ri•ly, adv. 
pred′a•to′ri•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2, 3. rapacious.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

predatory / ˈprɛdətərɪ -trɪ/ adjective

1. another word for predacious1
2. of, involving, or characterized by plundering, robbing, etc

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin praedātōrius rapacious, from praedārī to pillage, from praeda booty

ˈpredatorily adverb

ˈpredatoriness noun