mooching

present participle of mooch
1
as in begging
to live by relying on someone else's generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility he's always mooching off of his friends, even though he can easily pay his own way

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in sneaking
to move about in a sly or secret manner I suspect she's mooching around in the background and keeping an eye on us

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mooching
Verb
  • But quite incredibly, the third and final chance went begging as Ozer saved superbly.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • So here’s to sneaking it around the thought prison bars.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of her being forced to leave it there (and Alex eventually stumbling across it), Sophi could have taken the box — thereby either denying Alex ever getting his idol, or perhaps even then later sneaking off and using the key to get the idol herself.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Fall is in full swing, and that means now is the time to seek out autumnal experiences like leaf peeping and pumpkin patch wandering.
    Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Embrace that cozy energy by visiting a pumpkin patch, sipping cider, wearing sweaters or wandering through a charming small town to channel your inner Gilmore.
    Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Once Rubin’s data comes in, astronomers should gain a much sharper picture of whether the Kuiper Belt’s tilt points to additional planets lurking far beyond Neptune.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.
    Real-Time News team, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Observing this phenomenon could provide insight into the many alien worlds roaming freely through space.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Johnson County officials are turning to Fort Worth for help in capturing a pack of dogs roaming neighborhoods in Godley and threatening children’s safety.
    Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What he’s actually done is fake his death to create a template for a new life by stealing $90 million from a client of his crooked law firm.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025
  • One man was arrested and accused of stealing a golf cart.
    Bob Harkins, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of a weekend at the beach, cruising to the Caribbean is a tempting possibility for girls’ trips, birthdays, and mini vacations.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
  • After Game 1, in which the Padres’ Nick Pivetta was cruising right up until allowing back-to-back home runs, manager Mike Shildt acted decisively yesterday, replacing Dylan Cease after just 69 pitches (and five strikeouts) through 3 2/3 shutout innings.
    Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Spend your days leaf peeping on a scenic drive, hiking to waterfalls tucked deep in the woods, strolling through quaint downtowns, and sitting down for dinner next to a crackling fireplace at the end of it all.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
  • There are farmers' markets all over the county offering everything from fruits and veggies to jams and maple syrup, and picturesque towns and villages like Fleischmanns, Walton, and Hobart provide scenic locales for strolling, shopping, and dining.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Mooching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mooching. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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