as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return
almost overnight, the singer was a star, and almost overnight, he was surrounded by hangers-on who wanted something
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Recent Examples of hanger-on
Despite the revelation of the real Black Mesa corporation, some hangers-on haven't quite given up hope that this is all still just an extremely subtle bit of stealth marketing.
—
Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2024
Colin and Woody walk and talk and start to work things out, aided by a model-gorgeous hanger-on named Aphrodite (María Gabriela de Faría).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 31 July 2024
The entire sports industrial complex had descended on the city — executives, athletes, agencies, every form of hanger-on.
—Ben Strauss, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Every other year, artists, collectors, curators and assorted hangers-on from all over fly into the Italian city to see what is widely considered to be the planet's most prestigious exhibition of contemporary art.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hanger-on 
Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2024
Colin and Woody walk and talk and start to work things out, aided by a model-gorgeous hanger-on named Aphrodite (María Gabriela de Faría).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 31 July 2024
The entire sports industrial complex had descended on the city — executives, athletes, agencies, every form of hanger-on.
—Ben Strauss, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Every other year, artists, collectors, curators and assorted hangers-on from all over fly into the Italian city to see what is widely considered to be the planet's most prestigious exhibition of contemporary art.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for hanger-on
Thesaurus Entries Near hanger-on
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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