preyed
Hunted for food
Preyed is the past tense of prey.
To prey on something is to hunt and kill it for food: Hawks preyed on the mice in the field.
Extended uses describe exploitation or victimization: Scammers preyed on elderly homeowners.
Something that preyed on her mind troubled her persistently.
Creature eating only animals
- raptorHunting bird with talons
- lionManed African feline
- sharkCartilaginous marine predator
- eagleLarge predatory bird
owl · hawk · wolf · fangs · claws · talons · ferocity · instinct
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- pursuitAct of chasing something
- chaseRapid following of quarry
- captureTake into custody
- trackingMonitoring location over time
ambush · pounce · lurk · sneak · trap · snare · quarry · stealth
Without means to resist
- helplessUnable to act independently
- weakLacking power or force
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
endangered · exposed · powerless · at-risk · fragile · easy pickings · sitting duck · open
carnivore
Creature eating only animals
eagle · owl · hawk · wolf · fangs · claws · talons · ferocity · instinct · kill
stalking
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
tracking · ambush · pounce · lurk · sneak · trap · snare · quarry · stealth · camouflage
defenseless
Without means to resist
- helplessUnable to act independently
- weakLacking power or force
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
susceptible · endangered · exposed · powerless · at-risk · fragile · easy pickings · sitting duck · open · assailable
target
Object of pursuit
- exploitedUnfairly utilized for benefit
- manipulatedControlled through cunning
- deceivedMisled into false belief
swindled · conned · duped · scammed · defrauded · gullible · naive · unsuspecting · mark · easy target
- bird of preyCarnivorous flying hunter
- easy preyVulnerable, readily caught
- prey onHunt or exploit
- fell preyBecame a victim
- preying onExploiting or hunting
- falls preyBecomes a victim