not prey to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not prey to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something is not vulnerable or susceptible to a particular influence or situation. Example: "She is not prey to the manipulations of others and stands firm in her beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Paul Mackney is not prey to superstition.

The Guardian

"These things are so difficult to negotiate – and it would be simple for me to say that I step outside these worlds, that I'm not prey to these prejudices, to this bigotry, to these contradictions and hypocrisies – well I am.

The Guardian - Books

The modern philosophical construct of the rational subject projects a self that is not prey to ambivalence, anxiety, obsession, prejudice, hatred, or violence.

SEP

And we need to help low-income families save so they're not prey to predatory lenders that are taking advantage of them today.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"There is a kind of moral imperative that children of survivors have about speaking out, not being silent, not falling prey to the language of indifference," he said.

The New York Times

[cartoon id= a18172"] Lunataspis aurora did not fall prey to birds, because there weren't any, and wouldn't be any for hundreds of millions of years.

The New Yorker

Lunataspis aurora did not fall prey to birds, because there weren't any, and wouldn't be any for hundreds of millions of years.

The New Yorker

"Let us not fall prey to rumors".

The New York Times

Fortunately, Asians did not fall prey to this ideology.

The New York Times

They did not fall prey to terrorists all at once.

The New York Times

"He was not falling prey to all that party bickering.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not prey to" when you want to emphasize a resistance or immunity to a negative influence, such as manipulation, prejudice, or harmful trends. It suggests a conscious effort to avoid being affected.

Common error

Avoid using "not prey to" when describing physical immunity or resistance. It is more appropriate for intangible influences like emotions, ideologies, or behaviors. For physical resistance, consider "immune to" or "resistant to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not prey to" functions as a predicate adjective, describing a subject's state of being resistant or invulnerable to a particular negative influence. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes a state of being unaffected by something harmful or undesirable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not prey to" is a way of saying that someone or something is resistant to a negative influence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While relatively rare, it's used across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic content. The phrase conveys resilience and immunity, and should be used when emphasizing resistance to intangible influences. Alternatives like ""not vulnerable to"" and ""immune to"" offer similar meanings depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not vulnerable to

Directly states a lack of susceptibility or weakness.

not susceptible to

Emphasizes a lack of vulnerability to a particular influence.

immune to

Indicates a natural resistance or protection against something.

resistant to

Suggests an ability to withstand or oppose something effectively.

protected from

Highlights the presence of safeguards or barriers against something.

safe from

Implies a state of security and freedom from danger.

unaffected by

Indicates a lack of impact or influence from something.

impervious to

Suggests an inability to be penetrated or affected by something.

beyond the reach of

Implies that something is inaccessible or unattainable.

escaped from

Focuses on the action of avoiding or evading something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "They are not prey to rumors"?

You can use alternatives like "They are "not susceptible to" rumors", "They are "immune to" rumors", or "They are "unaffected by" rumors depending on the context.

What does it mean to be "not prey to" something?

To be "not prey to" something means to be resistant or invulnerable to its negative influence. It implies an ability to avoid being harmed or affected by something detrimental, such as manipulation, prejudice, or harmful trends.

Is "not prey to" formal or informal?

"Not prey to" is generally considered a neutral to formal expression. It can be used in both writing and speech, depending on the specific context and audience. The level of formality also depends on the alternative choice like "unaffected by" or "not vulnerable to".

What's the difference between "not prey to" and "immune to"?

While both phrases indicate resistance, "not prey to" typically applies to intangible influences like manipulation or ideologies, whereas ""immune to"" can refer to both physical and intangible influences. "Immune to" often implies a natural or inherent resistance.