HANGER-ON Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

hanger-on

noun

ˈhaŋ-ər-ˌȯn

Definition of hanger-on

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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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 hanger-on And among the security staff, assorted suits and other hangers-on, the money promised to the players disappeared. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026 Iyanla Vanzant, the program’s host, chided Holmes for squandering much of her fortune, buying properties and paying allowances to hangers-on. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026 A number of presences, including Hunter Schafer‘s busybody assistant and Kaia Gerber’s entourage hanger-on, flit about on the periphery while the leads conversationally duke it out. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026 Decades after Julian’s vanishing there, the band and various hangers-on recall eerie incidents both in and out of the house—rooms full of occult literature; pub full of haunting photographs—as well as the glimmering stranger circling the Orpheus-esque Julian. — Literary Hub, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hanger-on

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanger-on

Noun

Zach Raff, an assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics at NC State, previously told the Observer the parasite poses low risk to North Carolina as long as infected animals are quarantined.

— Eva Flowe July 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
It is caused by eating or drinking food contaminated with either bacteria, viruses, parasites or a harmful toxin.

— Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Definition of parasite

Noun

And so does Jesse — particularly the latest installment, which sees the iconic henchmen find themselves as accidental stars in 1920s Hollywood.

— Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Now, Lilith must team up with Cinderella (Amanda Seyfried) to fight biker trolls, outrun evil henchmen, and escape the Screaming Woods on an epic quest to save the kingdom, but most importantly, their relationship.

— Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of henchman

Browse Nearby Words

hangdog

hanger-on

hangers-on

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“Hanger-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanger-on. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hanger-on

noun

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