as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return
almost overnight, the singer was a star, and almost overnight, he was surrounded by hangers-on who wanted something
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Recent Examples of hanger-on
Bouncing back In short, the good economic news is real, whatever Trump and his hangers-on may say.
—
Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024
Their wealth involves a whole galaxy of servants and hangers-on who might feel threatened by a big change in their patron’s status quo.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Despite the revelation of the real Black Mesa corporation, some hangers-on haven't quite given up hope that this is all still just an extremely subtle bit of stealth marketing.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2024
Colin and Woody walk and talk and start to work things out, aided by a model-gorgeous hanger-on named Aphrodite (María Gabriela de Faría).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for hanger-on 
Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024
Their wealth involves a whole galaxy of servants and hangers-on who might feel threatened by a big change in their patron’s status quo.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024
Despite the revelation of the real Black Mesa corporation, some hangers-on haven't quite given up hope that this is all still just an extremely subtle bit of stealth marketing.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2024
Colin and Woody walk and talk and start to work things out, aided by a model-gorgeous hanger-on named Aphrodite (María Gabriela de Faría).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 31 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for hanger-on
Thesaurus Entries Near hanger-on
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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