adverb
- in a manner involving the practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest
Usage: formal; financial
Examples
- The loan shark operated usuriously, charging desperate borrowers 300% annual interest.
- Medieval laws prohibited lending money usuriously to fellow Christians.
- The payday lender was accused of operating usuriously in low-income neighborhoods.
- Banks that lend usuriously often target vulnerable populations.
- The company was fined for usuriously exploiting customers during the financial crisis.