of, relating to, or characterized by plunder, pillage, or robbery, as in war: predatory tactics.
engaging in or living by these activities: predatory bands of brigands.
excessive or exploitative in amount or cost, as out of greed or to take advantage of consumers or patrons: predatory pricing.
seeking to exploit, victimize, or prey on others: More and more, senior citizens find themselves victims of predatory scams that rob them of their savings.
acting with or possessed by overbearing, greedy, or selfish motives: He was cornered at the party by a predatory reporter.
Origin of predatory
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin praedātōrius “plundering, marauding”; see origin at predator, -tory1
They also vow to reform policing in Falls Church by shifting officers’ focus to community building and away from “predatory measures”.
Non-binary candidate looks to fill Falls Church City Council seat|Steph Purifoy|October 6, 2020|Washington Blade
The largest sharks ever to hunt in Earth’s oceans may have gotten so big thanks to their predatory behavior in the womb, scientists report October 5 in Historical Biology.
Cannibalism in the womb may have helped megalodon sharks become giants|Carolyn Gramling|October 5, 2020|Science News
For the fission yeast, such predatory tactics can have big consequences, even driving two nearly identical strains toward becoming different species.
This year’s SN 10 scientists aim to solve some of science’s biggest challenges|Science News Staff|September 30, 2020|Science News
Some of the animals that went extinct were large predatory fish.
Saber-toothed anchovy relatives were once fearsome hunters|Carolyn Wilke|June 11, 2020|Science News For Students
They are similar to those of modern predatory birds such as owls.
This dinosaur was no bigger than a hummingbird|Carolyn Gramling|April 13, 2020|Science News For Students
Nonetheless, Washington has chosen to allow Chinese predatory behavior to continue.
Sony Blames North Korea for Hacking, but Washington Left Them Completely Vulnerable|Gordon G. Chang|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Allegations that these two men are abusive and predatory have gone on for years now.
Revenge on the Pervs: Why the Tide Is Finally Turning Against Dov Charney and Terry Richardson|Amanda Marcotte|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This, it should be said, bears an eerie similarity to the targeted, predatory lending of the last decade.
How We Built the Ghettos|Jamelle Bouie|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How Rousseff's fall from grace will play into Brazil's predatory political scene is now an open question.
Can Dilma Rousseff Recover?||August 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Despite adolescent associations with tongue-to-tongue contact and French kissing, France is strict with predatory tongues.