vulture

A large bird that mainly feeds on dead animals.

• A vulture flew overhead.
• Several vultures gathered around the dead animal.
• We watched a vulture spread its enormous wings.

Common phrases: circling vulture, vulture wings, vulture colony, wild vulture

A person who gains money or another advantage from someone else's suffering or problems.

• Those buyers are vultures.
• Financial vultures bought the struggling company's land cheaply.
• He called the lender a vulture for charging desperate families so much.

Similar words: exploiter, predator

Common phrases: financial vulture, greedy vulture, vulture investor

To move around someone or something while waiting for a chance to approach or take advantage.

• The photographers vultured nearby.
• He vultured around her table, waiting to speak.
• Buyers were vulturing around the failing company.

How to use it: vulture around someone/something (Reporters vultured around the departing director.)

Similar words: hover, circle

Common phrases: vulture around someone, vulture over something