prey on/upon
phrasal verb
preyed on/upon; preying on/upon; preys on/upon
1
: to hunt and kill (something) for food
The wolves prey on small animals.
2
: to hurt, cheat, or steal from (someone)
criminals who prey on lonely elderly people
Examples of prey on/upon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Extortion With Threat To Kill Extortion scams involving death threats prey on deep fears.
—
Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Despite the persistent myth that our species evolved to chase down prey on the savanna, horses will generally beat even the most elite human endurance athletes in contests of speed and distance.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2025
Coyotes are known to prey on very small and young dogs, so keep those leashed, especially at night.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 27 Mar. 2025
By casting Statham as a reluctant avatar of righteousness in a country that continues to prey on its own, and trusting that his implacable sense of honor will resonate with an audience who feel like they’ve been taken advantage of for their decency.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey on/upon
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Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Despite the persistent myth that our species evolved to chase down prey on the savanna, horses will generally beat even the most elite human endurance athletes in contests of speed and distance.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2025
Coyotes are known to prey on very small and young dogs, so keep those leashed, especially at night.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 27 Mar. 2025
By casting Statham as a reluctant avatar of righteousness in a country that continues to prey on its own, and trusting that his implacable sense of honor will resonate with an audience who feel like they’ve been taken advantage of for their decency.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prey on/upon
Cite this Entry
“Prey on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prey%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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