be/fall prey to
idiom
1
: to be killed by (an animal, disease, etc.)
The deer fell prey to coyotes.
Many people fell prey to disease.
2
: to be harmed or affected in a bad way by (someone or something)
After the accident, she was prey to all kinds of anxieties.
Some of his friends fell prey to drugs.
Examples of be/fall prey to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The desperation to be an owner, and the belief that cannabis can increase personal wealth makes Black business owners fall prey to lopsided investment deals or personal bankruptcy.
—
Iris Dorbian, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Sirianni saw his team fall prey to the storied Super Bowl hangover in 2023 after a strong start to the season; the Eagles limped into the postseason where they were promptly eliminated in Tampa.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 19 July 2024
Be careful not to fall prey to illusions that seem too good to be true.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
But just as familiarity often breeds contempt, the current bromance could well fall prey to the kind of reality-show competition that Donald J. Trump has long seemed to encourage.
—The Styles Desk, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for be/fall prey to
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Iris Dorbian, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Sirianni saw his team fall prey to the storied Super Bowl hangover in 2023 after a strong start to the season; the Eagles limped into the postseason where they were promptly eliminated in Tampa.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 19 July 2024
Be careful not to fall prey to illusions that seem too good to be true.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
But just as familiarity often breeds contempt, the current bromance could well fall prey to the kind of reality-show competition that Donald J. Trump has long seemed to encourage.
—The Styles Desk, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for be/fall prey to
Cite this Entry
“Be/fall prey to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%2Ffall%20prey%20to. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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