1
2
as in victim
a person or thing harmed, lost, or destroyed
he fell prey to nagging—but groundless—doubts about his wife's fidelity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in target
a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule
that woman has a sharp tongue, and her favored prey is her long-suffering husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prey
Don’t let pets off the leash or get near wildlife
Your Chihuahua may look like prey to a coyote, while your rottweiler may terrify a yellow-bellied marmot.
—
Ruffin Prevost, AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
These animals, often called torpedo rays, can produce powerful electric shocks strong enough to stun prey.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Rich Girl Nation Book Release ATS: How does one fall prey to it?
—Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 12 July 2025
Unlike crocodiles which hunt prey on land, gharials find all their food in the water.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey
Ruffin Prevost, AFAR Media, 18 July 2025
These animals, often called torpedo rays, can produce powerful electric shocks strong enough to stun prey.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Rich Girl Nation Book Release ATS: How does one fall prey to it?
—Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 12 July 2025
Unlike crocodiles which hunt prey on land, gharials find all their food in the water.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
-
The natural groundwater eventually seeped into the former quarry, creating a new lake that swallowed some of the buildings.—
Celia Fernandez,
CNBC,
13 July 2025
-
Rashad Jackson, 9, and Stephon Gardner, 26, were fishing at a rock quarry June 21 in Midfield when Jackson fell into the water, Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson said, WBRC reported.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
Democratic members of Congress have objected to the wave of settler violence, arguing that U.S. citizens are falling victim.—
Noah Robertson The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
26 July 2025
-
Kaylee was hit by unknown object and Xana ‘fought back’ Though investigators are confident a knife was used to kill all four victims, Goncalves was struck in the face by an unknown object and the extent of her struggle with Kohberger is still unknown, Gilbertson said.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Noun
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As things stand, Díaz could be the latest target Bayern fails to sign this summer.—
Manuel Veth,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
The business had also been the target of pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the past year.—
Rod McGuirk,
Sun Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Watson, 46, who as deputy criminal chief was serving in one of the office’s senior positions, became another casualty in President Donald Trump’s mission to purge anyone found to have worked in some way for special counsel Jack Smith.—
Jay Weaver
July 14,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
-
The Battle of the Somme ground on for another four months, at the cost of more than a million British, French, and German casualties.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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