HANGERS-ON Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

hangers-on

noun

plural of hanger-on

as in parasites

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 hangers-on Next week’s trade deadline, in theory, should shake off a few hangers-on. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 28 July 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 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 Tiny hangers-on are tucked into pockets and cavort in crevices. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Most of the remaining hangers-on were staging going-out-of-business sales. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 The book orbits around an art scandal that pulls in collectors, curators, philosophers and hangers-on. — CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026 The world has gotten a glimpse of the fawning, skeezy shamelessness of his famous hangers-on, but not enough to criminally implicate them. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026 Callie is popular and vivacious, perpetually surrounded by admirers and various hangers-on (Audrey Grace Marshall’s Cara is hellbent on usurping Minnie’s place in Callie’s life, while her himbo-esque boyfriend Brad is given wonderful dimension through Beck Nolan’s sneaky-good performance). — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hangers-on

parasites

Noun

Such color variations are thought to be associated with camouflage, protection against parasites and ultraviolet radiation, and the effects of pleiotropic genes (genes that influence more than one, usually unrelated, physical trait or phenotype).

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
The molecule also exists on malaria parasites; the researchers had been trying to identify allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies to neutralize infection, but none could bind well to the parasite.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of parasites

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hanger-on

hangers-on

hang fire

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“Hangers-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hangers-on. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hangers-on

noun

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