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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of mooching
On top of that, Nico is also, quite obviously, just mooching off/clinging to Mindy because he got cut off by his family.
—
Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mooching
Verb
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Everyone loves the idea of packing cute sandals for a summer Europe trip, until they’re covered in blisters halfway through the day and begging to call a taxi.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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When the chain filed for bankruptcy eight years later, fans tagged Beyoncé online, begging her to save it.—
Rita Omokha,
Vanity Fair,
12 June 2026
Verb
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While that move threatened a major energy price shock, trade flows have since reorientated, governments have taken emergency measures, and a growing stream of oil is now sneaking out of the waterway under cover of darkness.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
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More volumes sneaking out of the Middle East via pipeline and the Gulf also are contributing.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Nearly a year ago, Estrella was found wandering alone on the streets of Denver without access to necessities, including fresh water.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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Ray struggles to hide his drink, to get a drink, to get away on his own and pursue his Sisyphean labors of hammering a bucket of baseballs off a tee and then wandering through the field to collect them and start again.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the whale breaches.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The specter of freeloading corporations using more space, water, and energy for AI processing has defined the race for the 30th House of Delegates district, well outside DC.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, The Boroughs followed a group of older misfits at a retirement community who become entangled in an otherworldly mystery lurking beneath them.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 June 2026
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The breakthrough points to a supermassive black hole lurking at the center of our galaxy.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Accessible only by passenger ferry or private boat, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island feels worlds away from the mainland, thanks to its maritime forests, expansive salt marshes, shimmering coastal waters, and wild horses roaming the dunes.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
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Let Florida panthers resume roaming by night in one of the last swaths of wilderness left to them.—
Eve Samples,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Some also broke into a tractor trailer, stealing items inside.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
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Years before winning a Tony and becoming one of comedy’s most singular stars, Cole Escola was stealing scenes on Difficult People.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Hop on a boat and spend the day cruising around the Cap d’Antibes and nearby Lérins Islands, where some of the best snorkeling in the French Riviera is at the underwater eco-museum’s sculptures off Sainte-Marguerite Island.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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Parents are often told that cruising with kids means choosing the ship with the biggest slides, the best kids club, or the most beloved mouse.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mooching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mooching. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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