Verb
(transitive) To eat (as prey).
Owls prey on small mammals, such as mice.
(transitive, figuratively) To exploit or victimize.
(transitive, figuratively) To weigh heavily upon (a person's mind).
Source: en.wiktionary.orgThe poor prey on one another because their lives offer no hope and communicate the tragic message to these human beings that they have no possibility to attain a decent standard of living. Thabo Mbeki
The things that prey on my mind in London seem to disappear as soon as I find myself in a different environment. Survival mode kicks in. Hayley Atwell
'Amusement' is appealing because we don't have to think; it spares us the fear and anxiety that might otherwise prey on our thoughts. John Ortberg
Without game, men prey on each other. Perry Farrell
There's a special place in hell for people who prey on children. I've yet to see a valid explanation and I have no reason to doubt the victims' accounts. Ivanka Trump
A little ahead, a black-capped kingfisher swoops down at lightning speed to prey on a fish. Source: Internet