as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return
During their fundraising campaign, the public radio station encouraged listeners not to be free riders.
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Recent Examples of free rider
Fruit, ginger shots, sea moss beverages, tea, and water were on hand, in alignment with her alcohol-free rider and commitment to sobriety.
—
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free rider
Noun
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These conditions can facilitate the spread of viruses, bacteria and parasites.—
Meg Tanaka,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
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Rescue teams quickly mobilized and began efforts to retrieve and assess the pigeons, which will each require veterinary evaluations, medication, and parasite treatment.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On April 3, Reichard-Hayes and Carter were arrested on charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and neglect of a dependent.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
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Eligibility for this payment depends on whether the child is expected to qualify as a dependent for federal tax purposes, as outlined in Form 4547 instructions.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Sara Aparacio, a resident cleaning expert at Homeaglow, equates scrubbing an appliance with an abrasive sponge to rubbing it with very fine sandpaper.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
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Stay away from paper towels, rough sponges, or scrub brushes, since these can leave small scratches or dull spots over time.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The same is true of Sonny and Sal, his high-strung henchman.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
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That is, until Krypto is poisoned by the henchmen of villain Krem of the Yellow Hills, with only three days to save him.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Free rider.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20rider. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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