prey 1 of 2

prey (on or upon)

2 of 2

verb

as in to feed (on, upon, or off)
to seize and eat (something) as prey a fox has been preying on the chickens

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prey
Noun
Amorim believes United go from soft-bellied prey in the Premier League to hard-running predators in the Europa League. Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 May 2025 The breach affected fewer than 1% of Coinbase’s monthly transacting users, the CEO said, adding that anyone who had fallen prey to the crypto grab and sent funds to a fake agent would be reimbursed. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025 One familiar example is ash trees, which are prey to the emerald ash borer. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025 This behavior is inherited from their ancestors, who evolved to hunt prey at dusk and dawn. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for prey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prey
Noun
  • Similarly, Studio Raw Material works with discards from the quarries of Makrana, where nearly twenty million tons of stone are processed annually.
    Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025
  • Common to lakes, rivers, and blue holes in Texas Hill Country and Central Texas, clearer, bluer waters can most often be attributed to the abundance of natural deposits and quarries of limestone that are native to the area.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • The victim, who suffered a laceration to the head, was transported by EMS to Lincoln Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
  • First responders transported 11 victims to local hospitals while others reportedly arrived via personal vehicles.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Tianwen 2 will arrive in orbit around the comet in 2035, then measure the target using its onboard instrument suite (all from afar; Tianwen-2 will not land on or sample 311P/PANSTARRS).
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 29 May 2025
  • But from the beginning, Chiuri was the target of critics who skimmed over the political messages of her shows and dismissed her efforts to create wearable wardrobe options for women as bland commercialism.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The very functions that could inform smarter, more efficient resource allocation become the first casualties.
    Nick Hart, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • These attacks typically involve drivers intentionally plowing into crowds, often during festivals, parades, or protests, causing chaos and mass casualties.
    Jenna Sundel Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prey. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prey

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!