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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun parasite differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of parasite are leech, sponge, sycophant, and toady. While all these words mean "a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker," parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society.

a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites

When is it sensible to use leech instead of parasite?

While the synonyms leech and parasite are close in meaning, leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage.

a leech living off his family and friends

When is sponge a more appropriate choice than parasite?

The synonyms sponge and parasite are sometimes interchangeable, but sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger.

a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout

When would sycophant be a good substitute for parasite?

The words sycophant and parasite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.

a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants

In what contexts can toady take the place of parasite?

The meanings of toady and parasite largely overlap; however, toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker.

cultivated leaders of society and became their toady

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 parasite To some, these new arrivals were symptoms of rot – parasites attaching themselves to a dying host. Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025 Untreated infections can turn fatal, and parasites, both internal and external, slowly deteriorate their health. Lucy Notarantonio, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025 May Protect Against Disease Annatto is rich in several key antimicrobial compounds, which can limit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Devineé Lingo, M.s., Health, 21 Dec. 2024 Some of the parasites removed were as long as 27 centimeters (more than 10 inches), according to the South Korean doctors who treated him. Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for parasite 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasite
Noun
  • People are going to bail on the subscription model like a dog shaking off leeches.
    Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Roving like hungry jackals, smallmouth bass will move down and along drop-offs, hunting for the holdout crayfish, leeches, and insects along their way.
    Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 3 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Closer to shore and shallower, the wreck of the Red Sea is covered with urchins and sponges and is home to goliath groupers that tip the scales over 300 pounds.
    Terry Ward, Outside Online, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The Russian-German painter Alexej von Jawlensky was something of a sponge.
    Harry Seymour, airmail.news, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Taiwanese government built what became known as military dependents’ villages to house Chinese refugees after the decadeslong Chinese Civil War, which ended in 1949.
    Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Singapore has a resident population of about 4.18 million and about 1.86 million non-residents that include migrant domestic workers, dependents and international students.
    Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • 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
  • The hikes, which go into effect on September 1, are part of a larger effort to crack down on membership moochers and boost revenue for the warehouse chain.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN, 11 July 2024
Noun
  • Borisov, whose Russian henchman Igor grows close to Mikey Madison's titular character over the course or Baker's unpredictable odyssey, has been dominating awards season for his breakthrough performance.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Also joining the cast are Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops and Hafthor Bjornsson as Goat Man — three of Skeletor's henchmen.
    Lawrence Yee, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The disaffected machismo of Nadie seemed to exhaust the man taunting haters and hangers-on.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The party guests—the artist-honorees and their partners, collectors, museum trustees, funders, and hangers-on—were clad in their finest evening attire, clinking champagne flutes and posing for pictures at a pre-dinner reception on The Shed’s fourth floor.
    Helen Holmes, ARTnews.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The horror show of our impending political nightmare is casting a shadow over the New Year like another decrepit despot of suffering, the creeping bloodsucker of Nosferatu.
    A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Lily-Rose Depp, playing Ellen Hutter, the object of the bloodsucker's obsession, tells Entertainment Weekly.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near parasite

Cite this Entry

“Parasite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasite. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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