as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return almost overnight, the singer was a star, and almost overnight, he was surrounded by hangers-on who wanted something

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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 hanger-on In the first half of Hurry Up Tomorrow, Tesfaye worries about his ever-weakening voice amid a relentless tour cycle where he’s tormented and inundated with partying hangers-on and lewd friend turned manager Lee (Barry Keoghan). Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 May 2025 The Wild Card is mind-numbing showcase of boxing photos, sweat, noise and hangers-on. Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025 In a government that is already owned and operated by far-right cranks and hangers-on, Bongino can only do so much damage on his own. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 Matthew is a classic hanger-on, whose own identity is mutable, molding himself to whoever is around him and shining their light on him. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanger-on
Noun
  • The knowledge that my life only matters as a body for labor feeds on my heart like a parasite.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
  • The analysis also unveiled other species of bacteria and a parasite which had all previously been unknown to science.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Malaparte, by then, was making his name as one of Mussolini’s highbrow henchmen.
    Thomas Meaney, New Yorker, 2 July 2025
  • The mosasaur has henchman spinosaurs – a nice touch – while a titanosaurus couple shares a loving moment (which gets interrupted by some pesky humans).
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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