free rider

noun

Definition of free ridernext
as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return During their fundraising campaign, the public radio station encouraged listeners not to be free riders.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 free rider Fruit, ginger shots, sea moss beverages, tea, and water were on hand, in alignment with her alcohol-free rider and commitment to sobriety. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free rider
  1. parasite
  2. dependent
  3. sponge
  4. henchman
Noun
  • Two samples tested positive for the parasite, cyclospora, according to the FDA.
    — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading … BROKEN COVENANT — Javier Milei blasts UN as 'useless' den of 'fatally arrogant parasites' in raucous speech.
    — , FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of parasite
Noun
  • The woman was not named in the statement, has been charged with neglect of a dependent.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Going to college doesn’t necessarily mean a student is no longer your dependent.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of dependent
Noun
  • Kim’s laboratory previously discovered that molten bismuth can act like a chemical sponge, cleanly capturing rare-earth elements out of liquid salts.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • For instance, at what point are there enough openings in a sponge for a liquid to flow through?
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of sponge
Noun
  • That may prove a moot point as Zelda was later seen giving her henchman, who had located the sisters, instructions to go as high as needed to secure their shares.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • One of the villain’s henchmen was a small, shaggy blue creature with a long drooping snout and a sour expression that lived in a cigar box.
    — Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of henchman

Browse Nearby Words

freemen
free rider
free riders
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Free rider.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free%20rider. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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