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predatory

predatory

39 6.1
Trying to take advantage of people to get money or power
  • adjective
  • /ˈprɛdətɔri/
: depredador
  • There's a reason why most of the world regards the United States as a predatory colonial power.
  • predatory pricing
  • predatory prices
  • predatory intent

And there is no place for predatory sexual behavior in this sport.

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Examples

  • You can graduate debt free and avoid the predatory student loan industry.

  • The predatory behavior of certain companies can lead to significant harm for consumers who are unaware.

  • Your funny story just makes you sound predatory and it makes you sound stupid.

  • So it was predatory practices that they did.

  • The Pharmaceutical industry is predatory, has been for a very long time.

  • In order to move our science forward, we need to be wary of predatory publishers.

    Academic text (2015)
  • All the incentives financial institutions offered to their mortgage brokers were based on selling the most profitable products, which were predatory loans.

  • The NFFA has created predatory capitalism where profit-making is the essence of democracy.

  • Many organizations are working to combat the predatory tactics used by some lenders to exploit borrowers.

  • Activists are raising awareness about predatory practices that take advantage of vulnerable populations.

Synonyms

mercenary
vspredatory
15 7.3

Doing things mainly for money rather than for belief or loyalty

is about seeking to exploit and control others, not only seeking money
power-hungry
vspredatory
  • Offensive
14 6.3

A person who wants a lot of control over other people

seeks exploitation and personal gain specifically, not only power for its own sake
exploitative
vspredatory
12 7.2

Treating people unfairly to make money or get an advantage

is more about ruthless control and forceful exploitation rather than general unfairness
marauding
vspredatory
  • NSFW
9 7.9

Going around looking for things to steal or people to attack

is more about seeking to exploit and control others for ongoing gain
exploitive
vspredatory
6 7.3

Using people or situations unfairly to get personal benefit

stresses active, often forceful seeking to control or exploit others
grabby
vspredatory
  • Offensive
6 8.1

Wanting a lot of money or things and not willing to share

involves deliberate exploitation and control beyond mere eagerness to acquire
rapacious
vspredatory
  • Formal
6 9.3

Very greedy for money and willing to take things from others

adds the idea of using force or control to exploit others for gain
grasping
vspredatory
4 8.2

Wanting to get more money or things in a selfish way

is focused on actively exploiting and controlling others rather than mere greediness
sharky
vspredatory
  • Informal
1 8.8

Acting in a pushy, unfair way to get advantage, often in business

matches this ruthlessness but also covers wider forms of seeking control
vampiric
vspredatory
1 8.4

Taking energy or money from people in a harmful way

is more about seeking control and material gain than metaphorical draining
extortionary
vspredatory
1 8.8

Charging people very high and unfair amounts of money

is broader, covering exploitation that may not rely solely on threats
predacious
vspredatory
1 9.6

A person or group that tries to take advantage of others to get money

is the same idea expressed in the given key description
leechlike
vspredatory
  • Offensive
1 8.2

Being someone who takes money or help from others without giving anything back

is more active and forceful in seeking control and advantage
predaceous
vspredatory
1 9.6

An animal or person who harms others for personal gain

is the same idea expressed in the given key description
vampirish
vspredatory
  • NSFW
1 9.2

Attractive in a dangerous way that takes advantage of people

is broader, focusing on direct exploitation and control rather than seductive imagery
exploitatory
vspredatory
9.9

To treat people unfairly to get money or other benefits

focuses more on ruthless or forceful methods rather than mere habit or tendency

Antonyms

52 5.1

Willing to help other people and give them things they need

23 6.7

Wanting to help other people even when it costs you

Compounds

An animal that hunts and eats other animals for food

An aggressive, unfair way of trying to gain an advantage over others in business

How Predatory

ruthless
142 4.9
predatory
39 6.1
exploitative
12 7.2
opportunistic
26 6.8

Surface Forms

predatory positive
predatorier comparative
predatoriest superlative

Morphology

predatory = predator (semi-transparent) = predator + ory

The adjective is clearly formed from 'predator', but the human/exploitative sense is a metaphorical extension from literal hunting.

Etymology

Predatory comes from the Latin praeda, which meant 'prey' or 'plunder', and is related to the English word prey. So a predatory person or company 'hunts' for people to take advantage of them to get money or power.