freeloader

Definition of freeloadernext
as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return a freeloader who apparently intends to live off of his long-suffering parents forever

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of freeloader Under Bolsonaro, state funding dried up, and the government painted artists as freeloaders wasting taxpayer money. Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026 Campillo objected to that rationale, contending residents of nearby cities shouldn’t be treated the same as tourists or characterized as rich freeloaders for visiting Balboa Park as non-residents of San Diego. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026 Remember how in 2023 when swarms of these surly, entitled freeloaders suddenly materialized – in Terminal E, of all places. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freeloader
parasite
Noun
  • After a grueling three-year battle, Brandi Glanville has finally determined the cause of her facial parasite.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Glanville even tried using Nair, the hair-removal product, to fight the parasite.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Freeloader.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freeloader. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on freeloader

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster