as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return
a freeloader who apparently intends to live off of his long-suffering parents forever
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Recent Examples of freeloader
That will weed out the frauds, freeloaders and slumlords.
—
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
That is to buy Apple stock, the greatest freeloader in this AI race.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Under Bolsonaro, state funding dried up, and the government painted artists as freeloaders wasting taxpayer money.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Campillo objected to that rationale, contending residents of nearby cities shouldn’t be treated the same as tourists or characterized as rich freeloaders for visiting Balboa Park as non-residents of San Diego.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Mar. 2026
That is to buy Apple stock, the greatest freeloader in this AI race.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Under Bolsonaro, state funding dried up, and the government painted artists as freeloaders wasting taxpayer money.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Campillo objected to that rationale, contending residents of nearby cities shouldn’t be treated the same as tourists or characterized as rich freeloaders for visiting Balboa Park as non-residents of San Diego.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freeloader
parasite
Noun
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Greenland Sharks Are Effective Hunters Many Greenland sharks are partially blind due to parasites on their eyes.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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The parasite causes painful skin wounds or sores that worsen within a few days, a foul-smelling odor from the site of the infestation and bleeding from open sores.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Freeloader.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freeloader. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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