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
as in wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly
kids on vacation mooching about the house and looking for something to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mooching
Verb
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As summer winds down and your strands have endured heatwaves, pool days, and sweaty workouts, your curls might be begging for a break.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025 -
If anything, people were begging me to stop.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Parents sneaking in a third cup before school pickup.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
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At the time, Simpson looked confused before dancing a jig and sneaking off the stage.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The 300-second exposure shows the wandering solar system body as a minute dot, barely distinguishable among the stellar giants populating the distant starfield beyond.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Fuel up for a day of wandering with a coffee at Dripolator.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Folklore portrays them as menacing figures lurking in the darkness who can possess those who wander too far from home.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Prices start at just $8 in the Halloween Shop, and witches and ghosts aren’t the only things lurking in there.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The herd roaming the Gila Wilderness, however, is expected to be hunted in 1970 and 1971.—
Tim Kelly,
Outdoor Life,
4 Sep. 2025
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Katie Wiseman Many Hoosiers were surprised last month to learn that armadillos can be spotted roaming around southern Indiana.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The core of the game is stealing characters from other gamers.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
5 Sep. 2025
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From her start as a Fly Girl on the sketch comedy program In Living Color in the early ’90s to stealing scenes in Selena and The Wedding Planner, then topping charts with her debut album On the 6.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Southlake Carroll, an eight-time state champion, knocked off Hebron twice last season — a 42-37 third-round playoff thriller, after cruising to a 59-16 win early in regular season.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
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Bo Bichette and Alejandro Kirk are cruising toward their best offensive seasons.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Matilda accessorized with a red purse, strolling down the street with a friend.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Jim Marshall, the legendary photographer behind some of music’s most iconic images — including Johnny Cash flipping off the camera at San Quentin and Dylan strolling through Greenwich Village — was one of the few granted the Grateful Dead’s trust.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Mooching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mooching. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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