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
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
The parade at Mar-a-Lago was a steady stream of corporate executives, wealthy elites and hangers-on, some vying for plum appointments and favors from the president-elect.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
The disaffected machismo of Nadie seemed to exhaust the man taunting haters and hangers-on.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
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
The parade at Mar-a-Lago was a steady stream of corporate executives, wealthy elites and hangers-on, some vying for plum appointments and favors from the president-elect.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
The disaffected machismo of Nadie seemed to exhaust the man taunting haters and hangers-on.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanger-on
Noun
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What else is going on California freshwater fish found to be teeming with parasites.—
Liam Dillon,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
-
But beyond the nausea-inducing idea of being host to a blood-sucking parasite, the consequences of tick bites can be dire depending on the circumstances.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Kent has shown up at Gloucester’s castle and runs into Goneril’s steward/henchman, Oswald.—
Nan Z. Da
June 10,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
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Noni finds herself up against Lion’s violent henchmen and women in series of fight-to-the-death encounters aboard the tyrant’s grandiose sailing ship, which lies at the heart of a vast naval fleet.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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