prey on
Target the vulnerable
To prey on is to hunt and kill for food: Owls prey on mice.
Extended to humans, it means to exploit or victimize the vulnerable: Scammers prey on the elderly.
The phrase can also describe something that persistently troubles the mind: Guilt preyed on him for years.
Control through clever influence
- take advantage ofUse for one's benefit
- victimizeHarm someone deliberately
- targetObject of pursuit
- deceiveCause false belief
vulnerable · abuse · swindle · scam · defraud · cheat · extort · fleece
Plant's vertical support
- pursueFollow to catch
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- quarryPit for extracting rock
- pounceSudden attack leap
chase · track · capture · kill · attack · stealth · lurk · carnivore
One receiving guests
- drainChannel for wastewater
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- infestationPest takeover situation
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
bloodsucker · tapeworm · tick · flea · louse · mite · ectoparasite · endoparasite
manipulate
Control through clever influence
- take advantage ofUse for one's benefit
- victimizeHarm someone deliberately
- targetObject of pursuit
deceive · vulnerable · abuse · swindle · scam · defraud · cheat · extort · fleece · dupe
stalk
Plant's vertical support
pounce · chase · track · capture · kill · attack · stealth · lurk · carnivore · food chain
host
One receiving guests
- drainChannel for wastewater
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- infestationPest takeover situation
leech · bloodsucker · tapeworm · tick · flea · louse · mite · ectoparasite · endoparasite · weaken
- exploitationexploit, sex trafficking, take advantage, human trafficking, forced marriage
- investigatinginvestigate, examine, inspect, probe, search
- mob attackswarm, mob, gang up, dogpile, overwhelm