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
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 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
-
The deck space is bliss for morning coffee moments, and the firepit is begging for s’mores.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
-
My friend has been begging me to go on a trip together for over a year now.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
After being expelled from Brown University for sneaking a coed into his room, Turner came to Atlanta to work as an account executive for his domineering father’s billboard company, Turner Advertising.—
David Bauder,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
-
In the video, the woman is seen lifting the bottle of cognac, which retails for $4,000, and sneaking it into a purse.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Still, the result is an inclusive fair with many works worthy of a serious look and a layout that rewarded wandering.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
1 May 2026
-
There were clog dancers and baby animals wandering around.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
However, lurking questions raised concerns about the integrity of articles Darsee published, including in the New England Journal of Medicine.—
Lawrence K. Altman,
STAT,
7 May 2026
-
That’s the one that told the hockey world the Americans weren’t just lurking in the background.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Celebrate by roaming the stacks after dark at this festival.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Fish and wildlife officials advise people to remove bird feeders until the turkeys leave the area and install sprinklers if the wild fowl keep roaming into yards.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Officials say the ring targeted vulnerable residents by forging documents, stealing personal information about the real owners and arranging the sales of the properties.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
There's a long way to go before the season gets here and stealing the spotlight on Thursday night during the draft doesn’t guarantee anything.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To top it off, the X-Shinobi yachts are equipped with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion systems, ensuring a quiet and fume-free cruising experience for guests while helping to reduce the environmental impact of marine tourism.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
-
Peterson was cruising through the first three, however, the Nationals rallied for seven runs in the fourth to set up the blowout.—
James O'Connell,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mooching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mooching. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
