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
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 hanger-on
In one of its most demanding assignments of recent memory, the San Francisco Opera Chorus led by John Keene embodies one population after another — monkeys, undersea dwellers, gods and heavenly hangers-on — and does it with power and cogency.
—
Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanger-on
Noun
-
Satoskar says the inaccurate information that influencers are sharing about parasites might encourage people, including those with delusional parasitosis, to make risky health decisions.—
Sarah Boden,
NPR,
16 Mar. 2026
-
They have been microchipped, vaccinated and treated for fleas and parasites.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
House, a Kiwi familiar from various Taika Waititi projects including the recent TV adaptation of Time Bandits, is a constance source of unexpected danger, while Hughes, George Mason and Matuse all get good moments as her variably bumbling henchmen.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When Martin gets blackmailed by gangsters, the pair knock off a mafia henchman and plunge themselves deep into the Australian underworld, all while trying to keep their business afloat.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Let the solution sit for 30 minutes, then gently scrub off the mold with a cloth, sponge, or old toothbrush.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Scientists discovered coral gardens, sponge-dense habitats, and five new squat lobster species alongside the two new worm species found in the glass sponge.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
