PARASITE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PARASITE?

Need another word that means the same as “parasite”? Find 6 synonyms and 30 related words for “parasite” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Parasite” are: leech, sponge, sponger, hanger-on, passenger, drone

Parasite as a Noun

Definitions of "Parasite" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “parasite” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage.
• A person who habitually relies on or exploits others and gives nothing in return.
• 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.
• An organism that lives in or on an organism of another species (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense.

Synonyms of "Parasite" as a noun (6 Words)

drone	A musical instrument or part of one sounding a continuous note of low pitch in particular also drone pipe a pipe in a bagpipe or also drone string a string in an instrument such as a hurdy gurdy or a sitar. The drone rose by a third to A.
hanger-on	Someone who persistently (and annoyingly) follows along.
leech	Carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end. They are leeches feeding off the hard working majority.
passenger	A traveller on a public or private conveyance other than the driver, pilot, or crew. 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. The headguard is padded with sponge.
sponger	A person who lives at others’ expense.

Usage Examples of "Parasite" as a noun

• He was a parasite who lived off other people.
• The parasite attaches itself to the mouths of fishes.
• An intestinal parasite of cattle.

Associations of "Parasite" (30 Words)

bacteria	(microbiology) 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 plants.
bowel	The part of the alimentary canal below the stomach; the intestine. The lining of the bowel.
ciliated	Having a margin or fringe of hairlike projections.
diarrhea	Frequent and watery bowel movements; can be a symptom of infection or food poisoning or colitis or a gastrointestinal tumor.
epigone	An inferior imitator of some distinguished writer, artist, or musician. The humdrum compositions of some of Beethoven s epigones.
fawning	Displaying exaggerated flattery or affection; obsequious. Fawning adoration.
follower	A person who accepts the leadership of another. She remains an immensely divisive figure but she has a million followers on Facebook.
groveling	Totally submissive.
ingratiate	Bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them. A sycophantic attempt to ingratiate herself with the local aristocracy.
ingratiating	Calculated to please or gain favor. With open arms and an ingratiating smile.
insincere	Not expressing genuine feelings. She flashed him an insincere smile.
intestinal	Relating to or affecting the intestine. The intestinal tract.
lackey	Behave in a servile way towards (someone. Lackeys were waiting to help them from the carriage.
larva	The active immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa, e.g. a caterpillar or grub.
leech	Habitually exploit or rely on. They are leeches feeding off the hard working majority.
minion	A follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile or unimportant one. He gets oppressed minions like me to fob them off.
obsequious	Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. They were served by obsequious waiters.
parasitism	Infestation by a parasite. Many species are susceptible to fungal parasitism.
protozoan	Relating to or denoting protozoans.
servant	A person employed in the service of a government. The state cannot be a servant of the church.
servile	Relating to or involving slaves or appropriate for slaves or servants. Spoke in a servile tone.
slimy	Repellently smooth and obsequious. Thick slimy mud.
spicule	Small pointed structure serving as a skeletal element in various marine and freshwater invertebrates e.g. sponges and corals.
sponge	Erase with a sponge as of words on a blackboard. A chocolate sponge.
sycophant	A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage.
sycophantic	Behaving or done in an obsequious way in order to gain advantage. A sycophantic interview.
symbiosis	Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. A perfect mother and daughter symbiosis.
toady	Act in an obsequious way. She imagined him toadying to his rich clients.
unctuous	Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily. The unctuous Uriah Heep.