Definitions

freeloader

NOUN

someone who takes advantage

Synonyms

STRONG

barnacle leech moocher parasite sponge

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for freeloader?

The word freeloader is typically applied to someone who is thought to be unfairly taking advantage of others by refusing to be self-sufficient when they could be. (Children usually wouldn’t be called freeloaders because they’re typically not expected to pay rent, for example.) Synonyms for freeloader that are even more informal include sponger and moocher, or its short form, mooch. (See the next section for more on the difference between freeloader and moocher.) Synonyms that are even more negative are leech and parasite. Freeloader and these synonyms and others are sometimes used in an extremely derogatory way in reference to people who are the recipients of charity or government assistance. Such use is criticized as offensive due to suggesting that they are somehow stealing from others in society due to not paying their “fair share.”

What is the difference between freeloader and moocher?

Moocher and freeloader are often applied to the same kinds of people, but they have different shades of meaning, especially when it comes to the level of what’s being accepted or requested without payment. Let’s compare two different roommates. A roommate who’s always asking for (or just taking) relatively small things—some of your snacks, a slice of the pizza you just ordered, subway fare, small sums of money, free rides—would most likely be called a moocher. In contrast, a roommate who for some reason lives in the place without paying or contributing to rent would more likely be called a freeloader. Freeloader is especially applied to someone who’s living rent-free and getting other significant benefits from the arrangement, such as free food, without ever paying. Apart from meaning, moocher is also more likely to be used in a milder or even affectionate way. You might even teasingly call a friend a moocher, but freeloader is usually reserved as a harsh insult.

What is the opposite (antonym) of freeloader?

Freeloader doesn’t have a direct opposite, especially as a noun, but descriptive words that capture the opposite of its implication of reliance on others are self-sufficient, self-reliant, and independent.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Skelton, who died in 1997 at age 84, had a big impact on early television with characters such as Freddie the Freeloader on “The Red Skelton Show.”

From Washington Times • May 18, 2017

The older among us may even remember beloved and famous clowns like Emmett Kelly and his alter ego Weary Willie, or Red Skelton’s famed TV clown Freddie the Freeloader.

From Washington Times • Oct. 10, 2016

Mark Pincus, a Harvard MBA who had three successful exits as an entrepreneur, including the $38 million sale of Freeloader Inc., founded the social games company in 2007.

From Inc • Aug. 9, 2012

A serial entrepreneur, he sold his first company, Freeloader, an early Internet broadcast service, for $38 million, and took public his second, a business software maker called Support.com.

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2010

While Skelton's characterizations of the tramp, Freddie the Freeloader, and the goon, Clem Kiddlehopper, were pretty much up to par on the first program, some of his straight monologue material was merely second-rate.

From Time Magazine Archive

freeloader

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