usurer

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'usurer' is correct and usable in written English.
Usurer is a noun meaning someone who lends money and charges an unreasonably high rate of interest. You can use it in a sentence such as: The usurer demanded an exorbitant rate of interest for the loan.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The MFIs offer an alternative to the old-fashioned usurer.

The Economist

Torquemada, fictional character, a miserly pawnbroker and usurer in a series of novels by Benito Pérez Galdós.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The action centres on the Malavoglia family, who borrow money from the local usurer against unreceived goods they expect to resell.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Himself a usurer, Shakespeare must have known how much he had invested in Shylock.

The New York Times - Books

Giving what promise to be the performances of this season, Lily Rabe, as Portia the heiress, and Al Pacino, as Shylock the usurer, invest the much-parsed trial scene of this fascinating, irksome work with a passion and an anger that purge it of preconceptions.

The New York Times

His interpretation of "The Merchant of Venice," staged in the Park last summer (and on Broadway later that year), showed how the disparate lives of Portia the heiress and Shylock the usurer were cut from the same corrupt cloth.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Dante, writing about that time, put usurers amid the fiery sands of the seventh circle of Hell.In this section The key to industrial capitalism: limited liability Those Medici Damned usurers Paper gains Loads of money Whose fault?

The Economist

IN DANTE'S "Divine Comedy", usurers are consigned to a flaming desert of sand within the seventh circle of hell.

The Economist

Primrose paths of dalliance (Shakespeare, "Hamlet") offer a slower but more relaxing approach.CurrencyMoney may well be the reason you are here; especially if you come from Cahors, the city of usurers, or worked for Lehman Brothers.

The Economist

So it came as a shock earlier this year when the government of Andhra Pradesh, the Indian state where microcredit has spread fastest, accused some leading microfinance institutions (MFIs) of behaving no better than old-style usurers.

The Economist

Mrs Zia's very future in politics already seems in jeopardy.Mr Yunus's, on the other hand, seems bright enough to attract a barb from Sheikh Hasina, who said she saw "no difference between usurers and corrupt people"—a list to which most Bangladeshis would add "politicians".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "usurer" when you want to emphasize the exploitative nature of the lending, differentiating it from standard financial transactions.

Common error

Avoid using "usurer" to describe standard banking practices. This term is reserved for individuals or entities charging exorbitant or illegal interest rates, not typical financial institutions.

Linguistic Context

The noun "usurer" functions as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It typically refers to an individual who lends money at exorbitant interest rates. As Ludwig AI points out, the term carries strong negative connotations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "usurer" refers to someone who lends money at unfairly high interest rates, often exploiting vulnerable individuals. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and frequently used. Predominantly found in news and encyclopedic contexts, the word carries a negative connotation, denoting unethical financial practices. Synonyms include "loan shark", "moneylender" and "shylock". Avoid using "usurer" to describe legitimate lenders, as it implies exploitative practices. As Ludwig AI states, it's crucial to recognize the term's negative implications and use it judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loan shark

Refers to someone who lends money at extremely high interest rates, often illegally.

shylock

A derogatory term for a usurer, often associated with exploiting borrowers.

moneylender

A general term for someone who lends money, though it can imply high interest.

extortionate lender

Highlights the unfair or oppressive nature of the lending terms.

high-interest lender

Explicitly describes a lender who charges high interest rates.

shark

Informal, predatory term for someone who exploits others for financial gain.

pawnbroker

Someone who lends money against the security of pawned goods.

creditor

A person or company to whom money is owed.

profiteer

Someone who makes excessive profits, often by exploiting circumstances.

fleecer

Informal term for someone who swindles or overcharges.

FAQs

What does the term "usurer" mean?

A "usurer" is a person who lends money at an unreasonably high rate of interest, often exploiting borrowers in vulnerable situations. They are also known as "loan sharks".

How does a "usurer" differ from a bank or traditional lender?

While banks and traditional lenders operate within legal frameworks and charge regulated interest rates, a "usurer" typically operates outside these regulations, charging excessively high, often illegal, interest rates and employing predatory tactics.

What are some synonyms for "usurer"?

Synonyms for "usurer" include "moneylender", "loan shark", and "shylock". The term "shylock" is often considered derogatory.

In what contexts would I use the word "usurer"?

You would use "usurer" to describe someone who is exploiting borrowers through unreasonably high interest rates or predatory lending practices. This term carries strong negative connotations and is often used in discussions of ethical finance or historical condemnations of usury.