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
Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.
—
CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
During the 2024 election, Amazon’s Prime Video tapped Brian Williams to moderate a conversation-heavy Election Night hangout with a large crowd of journalists, influencers and hangers-on.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
The ultimate goal, then, seems to be nothing less than the complete supplanting of MAGA with a new political movement—an angry, ultra-conspiratorial, unbiblical, neo-pagan movement of misfits and their hangers-on.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Which interpretation lands best with Subramanian will be made clear at Friday’s sentencing hearing — for which Combs, as well as various family members and hangers-on, will be in NYC’s Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
During the 2024 election, Amazon’s Prime Video tapped Brian Williams to moderate a conversation-heavy Election Night hangout with a large crowd of journalists, influencers and hangers-on.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
The ultimate goal, then, seems to be nothing less than the complete supplanting of MAGA with a new political movement—an angry, ultra-conspiratorial, unbiblical, neo-pagan movement of misfits and their hangers-on.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Which interpretation lands best with Subramanian will be made clear at Friday’s sentencing hearing — for which Combs, as well as various family members and hangers-on, will be in NYC’s Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanger-on
Noun
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After a grueling three-year battle, Brandi Glanville has finally determined the cause of her facial parasite.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
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Glanville even tried using Nair, the hair-removal product, to fight the parasite.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At his orders, cartel henchmen began setting fire to vehicles, gas stations and government buildings and blockaded major highways.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
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During the ensuing gun battle between soldiers and cartel henchmen, Oseguera escaped.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Start With a Clean Work Area A dirty sink and, even worse, an old, dirty sponge will only create a bacterial soup that can cling to surfaces.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
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Using the sponge, gently wipe or blot the entire boot with circular motions.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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