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
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.
Judge Neil Chawla said Westwood had used his status and credits on shows, including BBC series Doctors, to prey on impressionable teenagers. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025 As justice runs its course, one question swirls around the case: How was this man allegedly able to prey on so many young people for so long? CNN has reached out to the hospitals where the crimes were allegedly committed and the French health authorities for comment. Joseph Ataman, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025 Jones, Bianco and other speakers argued that SB 54 actually harms the undocumented community by allowing other undocumented immigrants to prey on them without fear of getting deported. Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 24 Feb. 2025 Whenever this is uncertainty around student loan repayment or forgiveness programs, scammers tend to prey on borrowers. Robert Farrington, Forbes, 20 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 2025.

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