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
Hackett, his bungalow neighbor Faye Greener (Karen Black), her vaudevillian has-been father (Burgess Meredith), assorted whores, hangers-on, venal studio executives, and a WASPy lunk — auspiciously named Homer Simpson (Donald Sutherland) — suckered by Hollywood’s erotic promise.
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Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
Matthew becomes Oliver’s bro, his hanger-on, his social-media camera buddy.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025
Matthew is a classic hanger-on, whose own identity is mutable, molding himself to whoever is around him and shining their light on him.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2025
The parade at Mar-a-Lago was a steady stream of corporate executives, wealthy elites and hangers-on, some vying for plum appointments and favors from the president-elect.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Armond White, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
Matthew becomes Oliver’s bro, his hanger-on, his social-media camera buddy.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025
Matthew is a classic hanger-on, whose own identity is mutable, molding himself to whoever is around him and shining their light on him.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2025
The parade at Mar-a-Lago was a steady stream of corporate executives, wealthy elites and hangers-on, some vying for plum appointments and favors from the president-elect.
—Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hanger-on
Cite this Entry
“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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