predaceous

• Qualifie un animal qui se nourrit d'autres animaux ; par extension, se dit d'une personne ou d'une chose qui exploite les autres à son propre avantage, de manière prédatrice.

A variant spelling of 'predaceous', describing a creature or behavior that involves hunting and consuming other animals, or a disposition characterized by exploiting others for personal advantage.

1. Hunting and killing other animals for foodC1formalscientific

   Describing the natural behavior of an organism that actively seeks out, captures, and consumes other creatures for sustenance. This trait is fundamental to carnivorous and omnivorous species and is associated with specialized physiological and behavioral adaptations designed for stalking, ambushing, or overpowering living prey.

   prédateur

   • The predaceous beetle larvae are voracious consumers of aphids in the garden.
   • Many species of predaceous diving beetles inhabit freshwater ponds.
   • The mantis shrimp is a highly aggressive, predaceous crustacean with incredibly powerful claws.
   • Spiders exhibit a wide range of predaceous strategies, from web-building to active hunting.
   • The introduction of a predaceous insect helped control the invasive pest population.

   Synonymescarnivorouspredatoryraptorial

   Antonymesgentlepeacefulplacid

2. Living by or given to victimizing others for personal gainC1formal

   Characterized by a behavioral disposition that exploits, manipulates, or harms other individuals to achieve selfish material, financial, or social advantages. This figurative usage strongly condemns such conduct as ruthless and lacking in empathy, often applied to people, corporate practices, or broader societal patterns lacking moral restraint.

   Prédateur (au sens figuré)

   • The novelist portrayed the businessman as a predaceous tycoon who ruined countless competitors.
   • As one critic noted, his predaceous nature made him a formidable but despised political operator.
   • The colonial administration was accused of predaceous resource extraction, stripping the land for profit.
   • Her predaceous rise to power involved betraying nearly everyone who had once trusted her.
   • The article detailed the predaceous practices of fraudulent investment firms.

   Synonymesbloodsuckingexploitativeparasiticpredatoryrapaciousvulturinevulturous

   Antonymesaltruisticbenevolentcharitablecompassionateconsiderateethicalfairgenerousgentlehonesthumanekindmercifulmoralnoblephilanthropicprincipledselflessuprightvirtuous