loan shark

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By charging fees that would make a loan shark blush.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

A clip of their shared cubicle scene — in which loan shark Kathy rags on Dreux’s low credit score — has captured more than 9.2 million views on Instagram since the film’s Jan. 17 release.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2025

It said less than 40% of people borrowing from illegal money lenders had received debt advice and about a third of those seeking advice had not told an adviser they owed a loan shark money.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2023

Because of these limits, banks kept interest rates between 6 and 12 percent and didn’t do much business with the poor, who in a pinch took their valuables to the pawnbroker or the loan shark.

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2023

Again, they’d rather deal with us than with some gangster loan shark.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah