as in leech
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of parasite
Maybe its sensibilities are as rudimentary as those of a virus or a parasite.
—
David Wallace-Wells, Vulture, 7 May 2025
McMahon showed me a pigeon that was being treated for trichomoniasis, a microscopic parasite that can get in the throat and essentially suffocates the bird.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
But things get gory for the many cicadas that are unlucky enough to be infected by the deadly fungal parasite Massospora cicadina.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
But sometimes, like a tick on a dog, one animal takes advantage of another — a parasite.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for parasite
David Wallace-Wells, Vulture, 7 May 2025
McMahon showed me a pigeon that was being treated for trichomoniasis, a microscopic parasite that can get in the throat and essentially suffocates the bird.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
But things get gory for the many cicadas that are unlucky enough to be infected by the deadly fungal parasite Massospora cicadina.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
But sometimes, like a tick on a dog, one animal takes advantage of another — a parasite.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for parasite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasite
Noun
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The uncertainty of global tariffs, exploding trade war with China, and endless attacks on European nations as parasitic leeches on the U.S. economy mark the demise of the trans-Atlantic alliance.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
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There are a handful of schools with about 2,000 children within a half-mile of ground zero of the toxic Tijuana River, the place where a swamp gas leeches out and spreads over our neighborhoods.—
Tom Csanidi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The shorter half is divided into two: a perfectly-sized sponge holder on the left and a dish soap section on the right.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
11 May 2025
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For reference, a set of nine little sponge cubes shown below – each of which weigh less than a gram – can release 0.5 fl oz (15 ml) into the cup.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
8 May 2025
Noun
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To cut spending, the package would impose new work requirements for many people who receive health care through Medicaid, with able-bodied adults without dependents needing to fulfill 80 hours a month on a job or in other community activities.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
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Older Americans up to age 64, rather than 54, who are able-bodied and without dependents would need to work or engage in the community programs for 80 hours a month.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
Noun
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Simply put, some animals don’t like moochers.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
13 Dec. 2024
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Things take a turn when Smokey's drug supplier demands $200 by 10 PM or they'll be killed, but the pair is easily distracted by conflicts with the resident bully, Craig's jealous girlfriend, and various neighborhood moochers and petty criminals.—
Danny Horn,
EW.com,
18 Aug. 2024
Noun
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Before the mole can get much info from her mark, however, top Harrigan henchman Paul (Emmett J. Scanlan) arrives.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
11 May 2025
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In a parked car, erotic dancer Ani (Mikey Madison) straddles Igor (Yura Borisov), the Russian henchman who’s been her undesired shadow for a couple of very long, very stressful days.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Wild Card is mind-numbing showcase of boxing photos, sweat, noise and hangers-on.—
Bill Dwyre,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
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In a government that is already owned and operated by far-right cranks and hangers-on, Bongino can only do so much damage on his own.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Remmick wants to pull Sammie’s music into his homogeneous blob of bloodsuckers, and likely use it to attract more innocents into the vampire circle.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Something wicked their way comes, belatedly, in the form of Remmick, a nomadic bloodsucker drawn by Sammie’s music.—
A.A. Dowd,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parasite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasite. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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