usurious

/ju:'zju ri s/

Thân thiện

The bank charged a usurious interest rate on the small loan.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or characterized by usury; involving or practicing the lending of money at an excessively high or illegal rate of interest. This is the primary and most specific meaning.
   • Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; exorbitant. This broader sense describes anything that is unreasonably excessive, often drawing a direct comparison to the high rates of usury.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Relating to high interest):
  • The desperate borrower had no choice but to accept the lender's usurious terms.
  • Many countries have laws against usurious lending practices to protect consumers.
• Adjective (Excessively high, exorbitant):
  • The hotel charged usurious prices for bottled water during the festival.
  • They criticized the contract for its usurious fees and penalties.

Advanced Usage

• "Usurious interest rate": This is a very common collocation that explicitly names the exorbitant charge.
  • The loan was deemed illegal due to its usurious interest rate.
• "Usurious contract": A contract containing unfairly high financial demands.
  • The court refused to enforce the usurious contract.

Variants and Related Words

• Usury (n): The practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates.
  • The ancient laws forbade usury.
• Usurer (n): A person who lends money at excessively high rates of interest.
  • The novel portrayed the moneylender as a greedy usurer.

Synonyms

• Exorbitant: (of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.
• Extortionate: (of a price) much too high; exorbitant.
• Outrageous: Shockingly bad or excessive.
• Unconscionable: Not right or reasonable; excessive. (Often used in legal contexts).

Antonyms

• Fair: In accordance with the rules or standards; just.
• Reasonable: As much as is appropriate or fair; moderate.
• Moderate: Average in amount, intensity, or degree.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Loan sharking: The practice of lending money at extremely high interest rates, typically enforced by threat. (This is a specific, often illegal, form of usury).
  • He got into serious trouble after borrowing from a loan shark.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
   • exorbitant rent
   • extortionate prices
   • spends an outrageous amount on entertainment
   • usurious interest rate
   • unconscionable spending

Từ đồng nghĩa

• exorbitant
• extortionate
• outrageous
• steep
• unconscionable