as in leeches
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
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Recent Examples of parasites
These methods sort through the DNA in a sample looking for specific genes that are signatures of parasites like pinworms, as well as bacterial pathogens.
—
Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Extreme temperatures, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria are also major dangers.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
That's, in part, because parasites tend to be made of only soft tissue that doesn't preserve well in rock.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Created by the visionary behind the Oscar-winning Pinocchio (2022), this Emmy-winning anthology horror series presents eight visually thrilling, nightmarish tales, ranging from colossal rats to alien parasites.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
For scientists digging into the past, ancient feces are a time capsule of intestinal parasites, food, and more.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
The benzoquinones in those secretions are pungent to parasites and mosquitoes, and lemurs sometimes also ingest small amounts, suggesting a mix of topical repellent and internal deworming.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
When bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, that leads to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which increases the risk of severe illness, disability or death, according to WHO.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Extreme temperatures, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria are also major dangers.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
That's, in part, because parasites tend to be made of only soft tissue that doesn't preserve well in rock.
—Regina G. Barber, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Created by the visionary behind the Oscar-winning Pinocchio (2022), this Emmy-winning anthology horror series presents eight visually thrilling, nightmarish tales, ranging from colossal rats to alien parasites.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.
—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Oct. 2025
For scientists digging into the past, ancient feces are a time capsule of intestinal parasites, food, and more.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
The benzoquinones in those secretions are pungent to parasites and mosquitoes, and lemurs sometimes also ingest small amounts, suggesting a mix of topical repellent and internal deworming.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
When bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, that leads to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which increases the risk of severe illness, disability or death, according to WHO.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasites
Noun
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Once the workplace of Revolutionary War figure General Hugh Mercer, the recreated 18th-century pharmacy and doctor’s office is filled with tinctures, leeches, and surgical tools, all explained by costumed interpreters.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
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The small-mouth bass go for the leeches, too.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There are many ideas floating around about the best way to clean windows, from using newspaper to squeegees to sponges.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Makeup sponges, on the other hand, hold bacteria, Frankel pointed out.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Besides being mugged by one of Iza’s henchmen, a brick was thrown through his window and his car was vandalized.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Clarke played villain henchmen Mac in the film partly set and filmed in Sydney, Australia.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The ultimate goal, then, seems to be nothing less than the complete supplanting of MAGA with a new political movement—an angry, ultra-conspiratorial, unbiblical, neo-pagan movement of misfits and their hangers-on.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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Which interpretation lands best with Subramanian will be made clear at Friday’s sentencing hearing — for which Combs, as well as various family members and hangers-on, will be in NYC’s Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This Reagan-era standout brought the over-the-top gore but also plenty of camp in a coming-of-age story with teens becoming bloodsuckers.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
-
But while the New Zealander won a Golden Globe for her portrayal in 2009, Paquin broke out long before Sookie was slinging drinks and slaying bloodsuckers.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parasites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasites. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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