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
Extreme temperatures, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria are all common dangers.
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
These methods sort through the DNA in a sample looking for specific genes that are signatures of parasites like pinworms, as well as bacterial pathogens.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
That's, in part, because parasites tend to be made of only soft tissue that doesn't preserve well in rock.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Created by the visionary behind the Oscar-winning Pinocchio (2022), this Emmy-winning anthology horror series presents eight visually thrilling, nightmarish tales, ranging from colossal rats to alien parasites.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
For scientists digging into the past, ancient feces are a time capsule of intestinal parasites, food, and more.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
The benzoquinones in those secretions are pungent to parasites and mosquitoes, and lemurs sometimes also ingest small amounts, suggesting a mix of topical repellent and internal deworming.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
These methods sort through the DNA in a sample looking for specific genes that are signatures of parasites like pinworms, as well as bacterial pathogens.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
That's, in part, because parasites tend to be made of only soft tissue that doesn't preserve well in rock.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Created by the visionary behind the Oscar-winning Pinocchio (2022), this Emmy-winning anthology horror series presents eight visually thrilling, nightmarish tales, ranging from colossal rats to alien parasites.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
For scientists digging into the past, ancient feces are a time capsule of intestinal parasites, food, and more.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
The benzoquinones in those secretions are pungent to parasites and mosquitoes, and lemurs sometimes also ingest small amounts, suggesting a mix of topical repellent and internal deworming.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasites
Noun
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Those who predicted a doomed future for all of humanity called us addicts and criminals, leeches and slime (and way worse things) because we were detested, shouted at, dragged by our arms across bedrooms and public sporting events.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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The horror film takes the world of elite sports to disturbing new extremes, filled with brutal ambition, blood-sucking leeches, and hard-hitting serves.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Medications, sponges, and cosmetics can all become safety issues if used beyond their lifespan.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
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Friends, and scalpels, were enlisted to cut out maple, oak, and other specimens from sponges.—
Elizabeth Kiefer,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Remember how in 2023 when swarms of these surly, entitled freeloaders suddenly materialized – in Terminal E, of all places.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
28 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Also newly attached to Write to Kill are Simon Newton and Mike Wood, who will play henchmen.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
4 Dec. 2025
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Kyle’s wife, Tracy, suddenly leaves Kingstown for her sister’s home in Ohio this week, urged by Kyle and Mike to get herself and her baby as far away from Merle’s henchmen as possible.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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During the 2024 election, Amazon’s Prime Video tapped Brian Williams to moderate a conversation-heavy Election Night hangout with a large crowd of journalists, influencers and hangers-on.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This Reagan-era standout brought the over-the-top gore but also plenty of camp in a coming-of-age story with teens becoming bloodsuckers.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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But while the New Zealander won a Golden Globe for her portrayal in 2009, Paquin broke out long before Sookie was slinging drinks and slaying bloodsuckers.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parasites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasites. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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