free rider

as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return During their fundraising campaign, the public radio station encouraged listeners not to be free riders.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for free rider
Noun
  • Banner tells Whitfield that he’s lost his sheep herd to parasites, and Whitfield has the nerve to laugh.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Animals of all shapes, sizes, and evolutionary lineages engage in behaviors that ward off parasites, viruses, and harmful bacteria.
    Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Married taxpayers who filed a joint return that claimed two qualifying dependents on the 2021 return could have qualified for up to $5,600.
    Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Social Security has made payments earned by American workers, their survivors and dependents for 85 years, without a break.
    Michael A. Hiltzik, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The cushions have a two-inch thick sponge interior that is plush yet supportive, and they’re covered in removable, water-resistant fabric cases.
    Shea Simmons, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Common Mistakes To Avoid Scrubbing too hard: Abrasive pads (like steel wool or rough sponges) can dull the surface fast.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In Lynch’s festering neo-noir mystery from 1987, Hopper plays a chronic villain perpetually sipping from a tank of amyl nitrate and handing out hits as a way to manipulate his henchmen.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Back in Montana, every trip Jacob and company take to Bozeman and back is inevitably fraught with peril — if not instigated by dastardly rich guy Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) and/or his henchman Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn), then by the pitiless nature of extreme weather.
    Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Free rider.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20rider. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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