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 That’s a missed opportunity to be a legitimate hanger-on in the wild-card race. Tim Britton, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025 Mike Appel led the session from behind the board, with the engineer Louis Lahav at his side and a scattering of staff, friends, and other hangers-on lurking here and there. Peter Ames Carlin, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2025 In nearly every comics appearance, Olsen is inherently something of a dweeb; a hanger-on to Lois and Clark who looks up to them and doesn’t always get respect back. James Grebey, Vulture, 16 July 2025 In what qualifies as high concept by Madea-movie standards, the character is transplanted to a resort in the Bahamas along with her family and the usual hangers-on. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanger-on
Noun
  • These methods sort through the DNA in a sample looking for specific genes that are signatures of parasites like pinworms, as well as bacterial pathogens.
    Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Extreme temperatures, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria are also major dangers.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Besides being mugged by one of Iza’s henchmen, a brick was thrown through his window and his car was vandalized.
    Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Clarke played villain henchmen Mac in the film partly set and filmed in Sydney, Australia.
    Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2025.

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