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 Food poisoning is caused by an infection or irritation of the digestive tract from viruses, bacteria or parasites, according to the National Institutes of Health. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025 Racey stated that necropsy results for livestock did not point to forever chemicals as a cause of death, but pointed to factors such as a parasite from the mother or ischemia, a lack of blood flow. Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Mar. 2025 Here's everything to know about the parasite The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum suspects is disfiguring her face. Jordana Comiter, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025 Read Next World Large parasites found protruding from fish’s head in South Atlantic. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parasite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasite
Noun
  • Americans know the federal government is squandering too many of their dollars on low-return programs, allowing too much of their money to be siphoned off by grifters and supporting too many leeches who are bleeding taxpayers dry.
    Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Are you surrounded by individuals who drain your energy (i.e., leeches and loafers)?
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Never submerge in water to wash them because mushrooms absorb like a sponge and become mushy.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In water as much as 4,200 feet deep the team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute found a surprisingly flourishing ecosystem that included icefish, giant sea spiders, octopus, corals and sponges.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Others are the survivors of deceased workers, people with disabilities or the dependents of disabled workers.
    Dennis W. Jansen, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Recovery Rebate Credit also applies to qualifying dependents claimed on a tax return.
    Brian Sloan, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Simply put, some animals don’t like moochers.
    Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024
  • 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
  • His other performances included as Robert De Niro’s nasty henchman in Michael Mann’s Heat (1995); as Marlon Brando’s insane assistant in John Frankenheimer’s The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) and as the suave crook Simon Templar in Phillip Noyce’s The Saint (1997).
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The not-so-grand finale of Reacher’s third season opens with a gun battle that leaves an entire ATF Special Response Team dead, along with a commensurate number of henchmen that Quinn flew in from somewhere.
    Chris Klimek, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Matthew is a classic hanger-on, whose own identity is mutable, molding himself to whoever is around him and shining their light on him.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • As if dealing with fleas in your yard isn’t enough, these little bloodsuckers can infest your home, too.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Klaus Kinski plays Count Dracula, Isabelle Adjani is Lucy Harker, and Bruno Ganz is Jonathan Harker in this unforgettable mood piece, a movie that’s so unsettling that one wonders if Kinski might actually be a bloodsucker.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Parasite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasite. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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