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
But financial exploitation can take many forms, as do those who prey on unsuspecting seniors.
—
Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Farmers remain worried that the lynx may prey upon their livestock.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Romance fraud, business email compromise, investment scams, sextortion—the list of ways criminals prey on people is virtually endless and constantly changing.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 25 Dec. 2024
This helps the nighttime hunters prey on rodents scurrying on the ground.
—Daniel Wine, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Farmers remain worried that the lynx may prey upon their livestock.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Romance fraud, business email compromise, investment scams, sextortion—the list of ways criminals prey on people is virtually endless and constantly changing.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 25 Dec. 2024
This helps the nighttime hunters prey on rodents scurrying on the ground.
—Daniel Wine, CNN, 18 Dec. 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 1 Feb. 2025.
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