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.

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for free rider
Noun
  • Many parasites also require multiple hosts to complete their life cycles, so their presence and/or absence can reveal a great deal about the health and complexity of an ecosystem.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • To be diagnosed, a person must test positive to two tests that detect antibodies to different antigens, or a foreign substance in the body like toxins, bacteria, chemicals or viruses, of the parasite, the CDC said.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Natalia’s story grabbed the attention of the public in 2019 when Indiana prosecutors leveled charges against the Barnetts for allegedly neglecting a dependent.
    Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Certain visa holders such as students (F, J, M, Q visas), teachers, and trainees may qualify as exempt individuals for a limited period, along with their dependents; foreign government employees and certain international organization staff may also qualify.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Try a microfiber cloth or soft sponge instead.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Head to Amazon now to snag Wright’s Copper Cream to make your pieces sparkle, plus shop copper cookware, non-abrasive sponges, and microfiber cloths to add extra shine to your products.
    Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Those Arabs who dared to cooperate with British efforts to restore peace faced death at the hands of his henchmen.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • At the end of the episode, tragedy strikes when Robbie’s latest robbery ends in one of his henchmen and all of the drug house’s attendants dying.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2025.

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