parasites

plural of parasite
as in leeches
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return a parasite who lived in the family's basement and refused to get a job or pay rent

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of parasites To survive in their hosts, these intestinal parasites produce proteins that interact with the host’s immune system, aiming to suppress certain immune responses. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2024 Water in a stream, river or lake may look clean, but it can still be filled with bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can result in waterborne diseases, such as cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis. Jack Irvin, People.com, 30 Sep. 2024 But her administration also distributed nearly 200,000 medical kits containing ivermectin, a drug typically used to treat parasites in horses and other animals, to people who had tested positive for the coronavirus. Eduardo García, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Sep. 2024

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“Parasites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasites. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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