free rider

as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return During their fundraising campaign, the public radio station encouraged listeners not to be free riders.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for free rider
Noun
  • In addition, old nests can also harbor parasites and pathogens that might be harmful to the birds.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025
  • These real-world parasites have inspired everything from horror movies to the hit HBO series The Last of Us, which envisions a future where a mutated Cordyceps fungus jumps to humans.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • It was made clear weeks ago that this was in part a database quirk in the agency and in part a general lack of understanding that a country with more than 340 million people actually does have tens of thousands of centenarians and living dependents of centenarians.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Despite these successes, vaccine-preventable diseases still infect millions of adults in the U.S. each year, leading to workplace disruptions and the neglect of dependents, such as children and elderly family members.
    Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Björk’s infamous 2001 Oscars swan dress takes flight as a delicate pavlova with passion fruit ganache, while Jennifer Lopez’s game-changing green Versace number appears as a tropical coconut mousse with pineapple-lime chutney on pistachio sponge.
    Ritu Upadhyay, WWD, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Scrub with a sponge or dishcloth, using a Mr. Clean Eraser for tough spots.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Raq is a master manipulator who claims to value loyalty above all else, especially from her henchmen brothers Marvin (London Brown) and Lou (Malcolm Mays) and her only son, yet constantly destabilizes the three of them with selfish mind games and power plays that genuinely harm them.
    Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
  • One whack and the burly guard or crime boss henchman is knocked out for the rest of the caper.
    Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Free rider.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20rider. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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