parasite

noun

ˈper-ə-ˌsīt How to pronounce parasite (audio)
Definition of parasitenext
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 Thanks to modern medicine, people in the United States rarely deal with parasites. —Breanne Hayes Haney, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025 This LifeStraw, 20 percent off for a pack of two, is proven to filter out 99.9 percent of waterborne bacteria and parasites. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025 His antagonism toward Europe has been public for decades, seeing allies as economic competitors and geopolitical parasites. —Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025 Casinos, much like parasites, extract wealth from the communities that host them. —Aimee Rosato, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parasite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasite
  1. leech
  2. sponge
  3. dependent
  4. moocher
  5. henchman
  6. hanger-on
  7. bloodsucker
Noun
  • In a cave in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China, researchers have discovered a new species of leech called Sinospelaeobdella jiangxiensis, or the jiangxiensis land leech.
    — Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
  • These bacteria sustain an entire ecosystem of invertebrates, including leeches, spiders, pseudoscorpions, centipedes and isopods.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of leech
Noun
  • Local dive shops run trips to the wreck, where sea turtles mingle with coral, sponges and cascades of colorful fish.
    — Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news David Kaplan has been working with silk for decades, molding and shaping it into scaffolds, sponges, and films.
    — Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of sponge
Noun
  • Key forms of coverage to consider include life insurance to support dependents in the event of a policyholder’s death, health insurance to manage the rising cost of medical care, and disability insurance to safeguard income during periods of inability to work.
    — True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • According to state estimates, Medi-Cal covers about 7.3 million low-income families and an additional 5 million adults, most of whom don’t have dependents.
    — KFF Health News, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of dependent
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
Definition of moocher
Noun
  • The Galactic Emperor’s top henchman and the freedom fighter Luke Skywalker were related?
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Their explosive investigation gets even more dangerous as Mike and Marcus must protect murder witness Julie (Téa Leoni) from a French drug kingpin and his deadly henchmen after surviving a shoot-out.
    — Rendy Jones, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of henchman
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
Definition of hanger-on
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
Definition of bloodsucker

Browse Nearby Words

parapsychology
parasite
parasites
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Cite this Entry

“Parasite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasite. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on parasite

Nglish: Translation of parasite for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parasite

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