hanger-on
noun
hang·er-on
ˈhaŋ-ər-ˌȯn 
-ˌän
plural hangers-on
: one that hangs around a person, place, or institution especially for personal gain
Synonyms
Examples of hanger-on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Backstage hangers-on lusting after her billionaire husband?
—
Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Even the ensemble’s array of desperate journalists, paparazzi and showbiz hangers-on avoids being irritating.
—Zachary Pincus-Roth, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
But the proliferating lists of serious aspirants include governors, senators, and members of the House, in addition to various MAGA hangers-on.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2024
The pop artist rose to fame by making striking screenprints from others’ photographs, assisted by young artists and hangers-on in a space aptly called the Factory.
—Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2024
Mulligan plays Pamela, a quirky hanger-on of the Catton family.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
With his niche celebrity burgeoning within the tech scene, Lee was never short of business suitors, hangers-on seeking success by association, and new acquaintances eager to exchange phone numbers and LinkedIn connections.
—Albert Samaha, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
Many hangers-on were so hip that the famous artists imitated them, not the other way around.
—Ian Penman, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
There was no party in the studio — no flowing libations, no room full of hangers-on.
—Danielle Amir Jackson Malike Sidibe, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023
Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Even the ensemble’s array of desperate journalists, paparazzi and showbiz hangers-on avoids being irritating.
—Zachary Pincus-Roth, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
But the proliferating lists of serious aspirants include governors, senators, and members of the House, in addition to various MAGA hangers-on.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2024
The pop artist rose to fame by making striking screenprints from others’ photographs, assisted by young artists and hangers-on in a space aptly called the Factory.
—Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2024
Mulligan plays Pamela, a quirky hanger-on of the Catton family.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
With his niche celebrity burgeoning within the tech scene, Lee was never short of business suitors, hangers-on seeking success by association, and new acquaintances eager to exchange phone numbers and LinkedIn connections.
—Albert Samaha, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
Many hangers-on were so hip that the famous artists imitated them, not the other way around.
—Ian Penman, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023
There was no party in the studio — no flowing libations, no room full of hangers-on.
—Danielle Amir Jackson Malike Sidibe, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hanger-on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hanger-on
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hanger-on. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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