parasitic

adjective

Meaning

Living as or relating to an organism that survives by feeding off a host, or describing a person who relies on others for support while giving nothing back.

Examples

  • Ticks and tapeworms are common parasitic organisms that drain nutrients from their hosts.
  • He lived a parasitic lifestyle, relying entirely on his parents for money while refusing to work.

Synonyms: dependent, exploitative, leeching, predatory