Need another word that means the same as “leech”? Find 12 synonyms and 30 related words for “leech” in this overview.
Table Of Contents:
The synonyms of “Leech” are: parasite, sponge, sponger, bloodsucker, hirudinean, clinger, barnacle, passenger, layabout, bleed, phlebotomise, phlebotomize
Leech as a Noun
Definitions of "Leech" as a noun
According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “leech” as a noun can have the following definitions:
- A person who extorts profit from or sponges on others.
- An aquatic or terrestrial annelid worm with suckers at both ends. Many species are bloodsucking parasites, especially of vertebrates, and others are predators.
- A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage.
- Carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end.
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Synonyms of "Leech" as a noun (9 Words)
barnacle | European goose smaller than the brant; breeds in the far north. Buses careered along with men hanging from their doors like barnacles. |
bloodsucker | A person who extorts money or otherwise lives off other people. |
clinger | Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit. |
hirudinean | Carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end. |
layabout | A person who habitually does little or no work. How d you get mixed up with that layabout. |
parasite | An animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host. He was a parasite who lived off other people. |
passenger | A member of a team or group who does far less effective work than the other members. He had been a superlative teacher but his health was gone and he was now a passenger. |
sponge | An act of wiping or cleaning with a sponge. They gave him a quick sponge down. |
sponger | A person who applies decoration to pottery with a sponge. |
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Usage Examples of "Leech" as a noun
- They are leeches feeding off the hard-working majority.
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Leech as a Verb
Definitions of "Leech" as a verb
According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “leech” as a verb can have the following definitions:
- Habitually exploit or rely on.
- Draw blood.
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Synonyms of "Leech" as a verb (3 Words)
bleed | Release fluid or gas from (a closed system) by allowing air to escape through a valve. He didn t bleed his patients with leeches. |
phlebotomise | Draw blood. |
phlebotomize | Withdraw blood from (a person) by surgically opening or puncturing a vein, historically for the purpose of bloodletting. It may be necessary to phlebotomize the patient. |
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Usage Examples of "Leech" as a verb
- He's leeching off the abilities of others.
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Associations of "Leech" (30 Words)
absorbent | A material having capacity or tendency to absorb another substance. As absorbent as a sponge. |
bacteria | Single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission; important as pathogens and for biochemical properties; taxonomy is difficult; often considered to be. |
bog | The toilet. The island is a wilderness of bog and loch. |
bowel | The part of the alimentary canal below the stomach; the intestine. He felt his bowels loosen. |
ciliated | Having a margin or fringe of hairlike projections. |
compressible | Capable of being easily compressed. A compressible box. |
damp | Damp air or atmosphere. An ensemble of drums including a foot damped instrument. |
diarrhea | Frequent and watery bowel movements; can be a symptom of infection or food poisoning or colitis or a gastrointestinal tumor. |
epithelial | Of or belonging to the epithelium. Ovarian epithelial tumours. |
fawning | Attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery. Fawning interviews with Hollywood celebs. |
fungus | Any of a group of spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including moulds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools. Fallen logs were overgrown with bright fungus. |
imbibe | Take (gas, light or heat) into a solution. If one does not imbibe the culture one cannot succeed. |
intestinal | Of or relating to or inside the intestines. The intestinal tract. |
larva | An immature form of other animals that undergo some metamorphosis, e.g. a tadpole. |
mutualism | The doctrine that mutual dependence is necessary to social well-being. |
parasite | An animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host. He was a parasite who lived off other people. |
parasitism | Habitual reliance on or exploitation of others. Billionaires whose wealth is bound up with parasitism corruption and criminality. |
protozoan | Relating to or denoting protozoans. |
receptive | Able to receive signals or stimuli. A receptive audience. |
soaked | Very drunk. He got absolutely soaked in the rain. |
spicule | A short-lived, relatively small radial jet of gas in the chromosphere or lower corona of the sun. |
sponge | Wipe with a sponge so as to clean or moisten. He edged closer clearly intending to sponge money from her. |
sycophant | A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage. |
symbiosis | Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. A perfect mother and daughter symbiosis. |
thirsty | Feeling a need to drink something. She s not even looking at you Stop being so thirsty. |
toady | A person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage. She imagined him toadying to his rich clients. |
wean | Accustom (an infant or other young mammal) to food other than its mother’s milk. The doctor tried to wean her off the sleeping pills. |
wet | Cause to become wet. The race was held in the wet. |
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