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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Recent Examples of hanger-on
The disaffected machismo of Nadie seemed to exhaust the man taunting haters and hangers-on.
—
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
As a spectator, a musician, a hanger-on.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2024
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
Hackett, his bungalow neighbor Faye Greener (Karen Black), her vaudevillian has-been father (Burgess Meredith), assorted whores, hangers-on, venal studio executives, and a WASPy lunk — auspiciously named Homer Simpson (Donald Sutherland) — suckered by Hollywood’s erotic promise.
—Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
As a spectator, a musician, a hanger-on.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2024
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
Hackett, his bungalow neighbor Faye Greener (Karen Black), her vaudevillian has-been father (Burgess Meredith), assorted whores, hangers-on, venal studio executives, and a WASPy lunk — auspiciously named Homer Simpson (Donald Sutherland) — suckered by Hollywood’s erotic promise.
—Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanger-on
Noun
-
The unfortunate truth is that blueberries can carry all sorts of unwanted guests, from dirt and debris, tiny bugs like aphids or fruit flies, pesticide residue, bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria, mold spores, and even parasites.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
-
That setting could help preserve it by protecting it from natural degradation caused by parasites and other organisms.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Before the mole can get much info from her mark, however, top Harrigan henchman Paul (Emmett J. Scanlan) arrives.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
11 May 2025
-
In a parked car, erotic dancer Ani (Mikey Madison) straddles Igor (Yura Borisov), the Russian henchman who’s been her undesired shadow for a couple of very long, very stressful days.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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