as in leeches
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return
a parasite who lived in the family's basement and refused to get a job or pay rent
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Recent Examples of parasites
Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that can transmit dangerous viruses and bacteria, including Lyme disease.
—
Dan Simms, USA Today, 4 June 2026
The first detection of these parasites in the United States in 6 decades was recorded in South Texas this week.
—Dawn White, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The chemical is commonly used in aquatics to sanitize by killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and typically dissolves in water.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
People develop foodborne illnesses when their food is contaminated with a wide range of hazards, including parasites, chemicals and microorganisms, Jean said.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
This is done with aerial bombings of sterile male flies, which is the most effective weapon against the parasites.
—ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
Although not particularly aggressive or dangerous, tegus may carry exotic parasites as well as harmful bacteria including salmonella.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 June 2026
The biggest concern is that mule deer are a potential vector for disease and parasites.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026
The cardenolides found in the leaves are toxic to predators and parasites.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 28 May 2026
Dan Simms, USA Today, 4 June 2026
The first detection of these parasites in the United States in 6 decades was recorded in South Texas this week.
—Dawn White, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The chemical is commonly used in aquatics to sanitize by killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and typically dissolves in water.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
People develop foodborne illnesses when their food is contaminated with a wide range of hazards, including parasites, chemicals and microorganisms, Jean said.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
This is done with aerial bombings of sterile male flies, which is the most effective weapon against the parasites.
—ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
Although not particularly aggressive or dangerous, tegus may carry exotic parasites as well as harmful bacteria including salmonella.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 June 2026
The biggest concern is that mule deer are a potential vector for disease and parasites.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 3 June 2026
The cardenolides found in the leaves are toxic to predators and parasites.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasites
Noun
-
The wetland habitats of Condylura cristata are rich in small-bodied invertebrates — earthworms, leeches, aquatic insect larvae — but the individual caloric value of each prey item is low.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Crappie like to hover below their prey, fining in place and examining slow-swimming invertebrates such as damselfly, dragonfly, and mayfly nymphs, as well as small leeches.—
Cory Schmidt,
Outdoor Life,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Besides cleaning, sponges are a useful, inexpensive tool in the garden, closet, craft area, and beyond.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 June 2026
-
Soak sponges and dishcloths in a solution of 1/4 cup bleach and a gallon of water daily for 5 minutes to keep them clean and germ-free.—
Emerson Latham,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
That will weed out the frauds, freeloaders and slumlords.—
Scott Ostler,
San Francisco Chronicle,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Under Bolsonaro, state funding dried up, and the government painted artists as freeloaders wasting taxpayer money.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Launched in early 1982, the original MOTU line-up saw He-Man and Skeletor joined by heroes Teela (at this point, the only female character), Man-at-Arms and Stratos; the morally ambiguous Zodac; and a couple of Skeletor's henchmen, Beast Man and Mer-Man.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
-
The remoteness of their surroundings is no accident; one of these characters is fleeing an inconvenient past, which returns with a vengeance in the form of a beefy sadist (Benoît Magimel) and his two hostage-taking henchmen.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Decades after Julian’s vanishing there, the band and various hangers-on recall eerie incidents both in and out of the house—rooms full of occult literature; pub full of haunting photographs—as well as the glimmering stranger circling the Orpheus-esque Julian.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Tiny hangers-on are tucked into pockets and cavort in crevices.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
As if dealing with fleas in your yard isn’t enough, these little bloodsuckers can infest your home, too.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
While Hollywood vampires—especially those in the Twilight series—have a devoted fan base, real-life bloodsuckers aren’t so adored.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Parasites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasites. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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