parasitic

adjective

variants also parasitical
Definition of parasiticnext
as in symbiotic

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Example Sentences

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 parasitic The alerts have piled up, with cyclospora occupying much of the attention this year, as the parasitic infection gave explosive diarrhea to people in 48 states. — Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 First a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis — a parasitic illness that can cause ‘explosive diarrhea’ — was linked to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce, sickening nearly 11,000 people. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2026 Cattle rancher Johnny Mestas doesn’t want to get too worked up about New World screwworm, a fly whose parasitic larvae can eat cattle alive. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 But disruptive policy choices played a hand in creating perfect storm for a parasitic outbreak to occur, and have likely made outbreak containment that much harder. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parasitic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parasitic
  1. symbiotic
  2. dependent
Adjective
  • Those fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant and tree roots, helping the roots collect water and nutrients from the soil to nourish the plants above.
    — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
  • At the end of Season 1, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange team up to fight a mysterious symbiote alien, who leaves behind a small trace of symbiotic goo that Osborn collects and investigates.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of symbiotic
Adjective
  • And as always, at the top level, the sport is dependent upon manufacturer largesse, something that usually vanishes in the face of worsening economic outlooks.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Malawi, which has among the highest fuel pump prices in Africa at more than $3 a liter, highlights the impact of a $100-plus per barrel crude price on import-dependent economies with thin buffers.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dependent

Browse Nearby Words

parasites
parasitic
paratroops
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Cite this Entry

“Parasitic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parasitic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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