parasites

NOUN

something that exists by taking from or depending on another

Synonyms

STRONG

barnacle bloodsucker bootlicker deadbeat dependent flunky freeloader groupie hanger-on idler leech scrounger sponge stooge sucker sycophant taker

Antonyms

WEAK

blessing

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.

Cleaner fish remove parasites from larger reef fish and receive a meal in return.

From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026

The injectable drug can be used along with a one-dose topical spray that kills the parasites at a cost of about 30 cents per animal, he said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

Left untreated, the infestation can be deadly, and the parasites can quickly spread.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

“The Spartans might be . . . viewed as parasites, feeding off the forced labor of their helots,” he opines.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

In the United States our foresters seem to have thought of biological control chiefly in terms of introducing insect parasites and predators.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson