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parasite

noun
par路​a路​site | \ 藞per-蓹-藢s墨t How to pronounce parasite (audio) , 藞pa-r蓹-\

Definition of parasite

1 : a person who exploits the hospitality of the rich and earns welcome by flattery sought to rid the palace of the parasites of his prosperity
2 : an organism living in, with, or on another organism in parasitism an intestinal parasite of humans a parasite that causes malaria
3 : something that resembles a biological parasite in dependence on something else for existence or support without making a useful or adequate return That city has become a parasite on the country.
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about parasite

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Choose the Right Synonym for parasite

parasite, sycophant, toady, leech, sponge mean a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker. parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society. a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation. a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker. cultivated leaders of society and became their toady leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage. a leech living off his family and friends sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger. a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout

Examples of parasite in a Sentence

Many diseases are caused by parasites. She's a parasite who only stays with him for the money. These new companies are parasites feeding off the success of those who spent the last decade establishing the industry.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 None of the fish showed signs of lesions, parasites and infections, so the scientists concluded the die-off is connected with the heat wave. — Doug Criss, CNN, "5 things to know for August 19: Potential mass shootings arrests, Afghanistan wedding attack, Brexit," 19 Aug. 2019 Except, today鈥檚 cats likely don鈥檛 have these parasites anymore. — David Shultz, Science | AAAS, "Mystery solved? Why cats eat grass," 8 Aug. 2019 But diving in to beat the heat could expose you to parasites that can cause severe illness, the Centers for Disease Control warns. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al.com, "Crypto: Parasite in pools making people sick, CDC wants," 1 July 2019 Others were suffering from physical wounds, skin conditions and external parasites. — Aaron Randle, New York Times, "188 Sickly Dogs Hoarded by a One-Time Top Breeder at Westminster," 12 June 2019 Zoo veterinarians say nearly every gorilla in captivity tests positive for the B. coli parasite in question and Ndume's levels of it very low. — Cameron Knight, Cincinnati.com, "Gorilla Ndume's trip home delayed due to worries over risks, courts asked to decide," 5 June 2019 Malnutrition, pellagra, hookworm, and other parasites were ubiquitous. — Kevin Baker, Harper's magazine, "Where Our New World Begins," 10 May 2019 In Africa's highlands, environmental suitability for the malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasite increased by nearly 21 percent from the 1950s to the 2010s. Climate change also threatens food security. — Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, "Climate Change Is Having a Major Impact on Global Health," 1 Mar. 2019 Pasture rotation reduces species-specific parasites and gives fresh-chewed plants time to recover. — Eric Velasco, al, "Follow the journey of local food from seed to plate," 13 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parasite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of parasite

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for parasite

Middle French, from Latin parasitus, from Greek parasitos, from para- + sitos grain, food

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More Definitions for parasite

parasite

noun
How to pronounce parasite (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of parasite

: an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food or protection from it
disapproving : a person or thing that takes something from someone or something else and does not do anything to earn it or deserve it

See the full definition for parasite in the English Language Learners Dictionary

parasite

noun
par路​a路​site | \ 藞per-蓹-藢s墨t How to pronounce parasite (audio) \

Kids Definition of parasite

1 : a living thing (as a flea, worm, or fungus) that lives in or on another living thing and gets food and sometimes shelter from it and usually causes harm to it
2 : a person who lives at the expense of another

parasite

noun
par路​a路​site | \ 藞par-蓹-藢s墨t How to pronounce parasite (audio) \

Medical Definition of parasite

: an organism living in, with, or on another organism in parasitism

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More from Merriam-Webster on parasite

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with parasite

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for parasite

Spanish Central: Translation of parasite

Nglish: Translation of parasite for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of parasite for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parasite

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