usurious

adjective

usu·​ri·​ous yu̇-ˈzhu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce usurious (audio) -ˈzu̇r- How to pronounce usurious (audio)
1
: practicing usury
2
: involving usury : of the character of usury
usurious interest rates
usuriously adverb
usuriousness noun

Examples of usurious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prosecutors accused the individuals of participating in a sports gambling operation that received more than $22.7 million in illicit bets and a loansharking operation that brought in about $500,000 in usurious loans. Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024 Factors such as insufficient plow animals, plagues, locusts, drought, usurious interest rates — all totally unrelated to Zionist policies — helped create a landless Arab population. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2024 Why, for instance, are telephone fees so usurious for the people in prison who can least afford them, when their friends on the outside can practically call Mars for $20 a month? Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2024 An auto lender charged usurious interest rates was forced to pay a fine. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for usurious 

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of usurious was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near usurious

Cite this Entry

“Usurious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usurious. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

usurious

adjective
usu·​ri·​ous yu̇-ˈzhu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce usurious (audio) -ˈzu̇r- How to pronounce usurious (audio)
: practicing, involving, or being usury
usurious interest

Legal Definition

usurious

adjective
usu·​ri·​ous yu̇-ˈzhu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce usurious (audio)
1
: practicing usury
2
: involving usury
usurious interest
usuriously adverb
usuriousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on usurious

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