Predator
A carnivorous animal that hunts other animals for food; also a person who ruthlessly exploits or preys on others.
nounPredator
A carnivorous animal that hunts other animals for food; also a person who ruthlessly exploits or preys on others.
nounImagine This
Imagine a sleek leopard crouching in tall grass, eyes fixed on a grazing gazelle. With a sudden lunge, the predator closes the distance and makes the kill.
Sounds Like
Pronounced PREH-duh-tor; IPA: /ˈprɛ.dəˌtɔr/ (American).
Looks Like
Often depicted as the hunter in a predator-prey dynamic; evokes imagery of a hunter and the hunted.
Remember This
Predators help shape ecosystems by controlling prey populations and influencing the behavior of other species; many ecosystems feature apex predators at the top of the food chain.
Other Forms
Connect With
prey, hunt, carnivore, predator-prey dynamics, apex predator, stalking, ambush
Note
Use predator for living hunters or exploiters. In metaphorical use, it can describe someone who preys on others; avoid using 'predator' to describe passive threats or nonliving phenomena.