free riders

noun

plural of free rider
as in parasites
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for free riders
  1. parasites
  2. henchmen
Noun
  • Smokey has been treated for fleas and parasites and is up-to-date on vaccinations.
    — Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Since 2022, the parasites have been reproducing and moving farther northward.
    — Eric Michel, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of parasites
Noun
  • Crosby can… um… provide funny reaction shots when henchmen get killed!
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • One of the villain’s henchmen was a small, shaggy blue creature with a long drooping snout and a sour expression that lived in a cigar box.
    — Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of henchmen
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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free rider
free riders
frees
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Cite this Entry

“Free riders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20riders. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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