Depredatory

/ˈdeprɪdətɔːri/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or involving plundering, raiding, or preying upon; marked by destruction and theft.

Etymology

From Latin depraedatorius (plundering), from praedari (to plunder) with -ory suffix creating adjectives meaning 'of the nature of' or 'tending to cause'.

Kelly Says

A 'depredatory attack' by pirates or an invasive species describes something systematic and destructive—it's worse than random theft because it's organized exploitation of resources.

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