predator
animal that hunts other animals
An animal that catches and eats other animals for food.
[predator] hunts [prey]
- Lions are powerful predators that hunt in groups.
- Without natural predators, the deer population quickly grew out of control.
- Sharks are top predators in many marine ecosystems.
- The owl is a silent predator that hunts at night.
- When a new predator is introduced to an area, it can disrupt the balance between predator and prey.
- A lion is a predator that eats other animals.
- Many small fish swim together to hide from predators.
- Wolves are predators, and they hunt in a group.
- Birds may watch the ground for predators before they eat.
- Some animals have bright colors to warn predators not to eat them.
person who cruelly exploits others
A person who looks for weak people and uses or hurts them, often for sex, money, or power.
[predator] targets [someone]
- The police warned parents about online predators who contact children through social media.
- She described her former boss as a predator who used his position to intimidate younger employees.
- Scammers are financial predators who look for vulnerable people to cheat.
- The court called him a dangerous sexual predator and sentenced him to many years in prison.
- Advocates say that more needs to be done to protect elderly people from predators who target their savings.
- The man was a predator who hurt many young people.
- Online predators sometimes lie about their age and name.
- A sexual predator can cause great harm to victims.
- The company promised to protect customers from financial predators.
- Parents teach their children how to stay safe from predators on the internet.
company that aggressively acquires others
A company or fund that tries hard to buy other companies, usually in a strong and sometimes unfriendly way.
[predator] makes a bid for [company]
- The media described the firm as a corporate predator after its hostile bid for three rival companies.
- Smaller businesses fear that a larger predator will eventually buy them out.
- Regulators are considering new rules to limit the power of financial predators in the housing market.
- Once seen as a predator, the company is now trying to present itself as a long-term partner for local firms.
- Analysts speculated that a foreign predator might make an offer for the struggling retailer.
- The newspaper called the big company a predator after it tried to buy a smaller one.
- Some banks act like predators when they buy many weak companies.
- A foreign predator may try to take over the local business.
- The small company was afraid a big predator would buy it.
- In this report, the predator is the company that wants to make a hostile bid.
- Base: predator
- Plural: predators
apex predator
1predator at top of food chain
A predator that is at the highest level in the food chain and is not usually eaten by other animals in its area.
- As an apex predator, the tiger has no natural enemies in its habitat.
- Removing an apex predator like the wolf can change the whole ecosystem.
- Great white sharks are often described as apex predators of the oceans.
corporate predator
7company that aggressively buys others
A large company that often tries to buy other companies in a strong and sometimes unfriendly way.
- The small firm feared that a corporate predator would try to take it over.
- The article asks whether the tech giant has become a corporate predator.
- New rules aim to limit the power of corporate predators in the market.
natural predator
4usual wild hunter of a species
An animal that normally lives in the same area and hunts a certain kind of animal.
- Without any natural predators, the rabbits multiplied quickly.
- Introducing a species’ natural predator can help control pests.
- In this lake, larger fish are the natural predators of the smaller ones.
online predator
5person who hunts victims online
A person who uses the internet to find and contact people, often children, to hurt, cheat, or abuse them.
- Schools now teach students how to recognize online predators.
- Online predators often pretend to be someone else to win a child’s trust.
- The campaign warns teenagers about sharing personal information with possible online predators.
predator and prey
3relationship between hunter and hunted
The two sides in nature where one animal (the predator) hunts and eats another animal (the prey).
- The balance between predator and prey is important for a healthy ecosystem.
- Students drew diagrams to show predator and prey in a food chain.
- Changes in climate can affect predator and prey numbers in complex ways.
sexual predator
6person who hunts for sexual victims
A person who looks for people, often weaker or younger, to abuse or hurt them in a sexual way.
- The law was created to track convicted sexual predators after they leave prison.
- Parents worry about sexual predators who might target children online.
- The documentary followed the survivors of a well-known sexual predator.
top predator
2highest-level predator in ecosystem
A predator at the highest level in a food web, which is not usually eaten by other animals in that system.
- As a top predator, the polar bear plays an important role in the Arctic.
- Changes in the number of top predators can affect many other species.
- Orcas are top predators that hunt seals, fish, and even other whales.