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
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On top of that, Pennsylvania is one of seven swing states where residents are bombarded day and night with phone calls, texts and political ads that often prey on voters’ fears. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024 While these omnivorous rodents often prey on eggs and even hatchlings, Rimatara has been spared of this fate thanks to an ambitious extermination program that’s still going strong today. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 These scams prey on people with tax debt, offering false hope for a quick fix. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 22 Sep. 2024 What Platt was leaning into was the movie’s depiction of a world empowering an authoritarian leader (in this case, dear Wizard) who uses scapegoating to prey on — and stoke — people’s fears. Glenn Whipp, Twin Cities, 24 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prey on/upon 

Dictionary Entries Near 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 18 Dec. 2024.

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