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
Trump’s false claims about other countries emptying their jails of violent criminals to prey on Americans have been fact-checked and denied.
—
Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
The Laken Riley Act allows ICE to correct mistakes that permitted criminal aliens who were allowed to cross the border to prey on Americans.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
While blue sharks are known to prey on swordfish in some regions, the reverse interaction is less understood.
—Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
But financial exploitation can take many forms, as do those who prey on unsuspecting seniors.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
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Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
The Laken Riley Act allows ICE to correct mistakes that permitted criminal aliens who were allowed to cross the border to prey on Americans.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
While blue sharks are known to prey on swordfish in some regions, the reverse interaction is less understood.
—Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
But financial exploitation can take many forms, as do those who prey on unsuspecting seniors.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
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 6 Feb. 2025.
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