freeloading
Living off others
Freeloading is taking advantage of others' generosity without contributing or paying one's share.
A freeloader habitually mooches off friends, crashes on couches indefinitely, or eats food they didn't buy: He's been freeloading off his parents since he dropped out.
The term carries clear disapproval—freeloaders exploit hospitality rather than reciprocate it.
Taking without reciprocating
- scroungingSeeking handouts resourcefully
- cadgingObtaining through begging
- bummingHabitually seeking freebies
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
panhandling · begging · couchsurfing · grifting · scavenging · handouts · borrowing · tapping
One exploiting a host
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
- spongeAbsorbent cleaning material
- moochObtain by begging
hanger-on · dependent · symbiosis · host · tapeworm · tick · infestation · draining
Passing time idly
- slackingAvoiding effort deliberately
- idlingOperating without working
- lazingResting without aim
- loungingReclining in idleness
dawdling · shirking · goldbricking · coasting · deadbeat · layabout · good-for-nothing · ne'er-do-well
Uninvited event attendee
- uninvitedWithout formal welcome
- interloperOne who enters uninvited
- crasherUninvited event attendee
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
unwelcome · unbidden · unsolicited · intruder · party crasher · plus-one · tagalong · hanger-on
Benefiting from circumstances
- usingPutting into service
- manipulatingInfluencing through cunning
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
- presumingTaking for granted
milking · leveraging · opportunism · entitlement · ingratitude · shamelessness · audacity · gall
Inert, unproductive mass
- drainChannel for wastewater
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- albatrossLong-winged oceanic bird
- millstoneGrain-crushing circular stone
encumbrance · drag · hindrance · imposition · strain · weight · obligation · onus
sponging
Taking without reciprocating
- scroungingSeeking handouts resourcefully
- cadgingObtaining through begging
- bummingHabitually seeking freebies
mooching · panhandling · begging · couchsurfing · grifting · scavenging · handouts · borrowing · tapping · hitting up
parasite
One exploiting a host
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
- spongeAbsorbent cleaning material
mooch · hanger-on · dependent · symbiosis · host · tapeworm · tick · infestation · draining · feeding off
loafing
Passing time idly
lounging · dawdling · shirking · goldbricking · coasting · deadbeat · layabout · good-for-nothing · ne'er-do-well · sluggard
gatecrasher
Uninvited event attendee
- uninvitedWithout formal welcome
- interloperOne who enters uninvited
- crasherUninvited event attendee
trespasser · unwelcome · unbidden · unsolicited · intruder · party crasher · plus-one · tagalong · hanger-on · squatter
taking advantage
Benefiting from circumstances
- usingPutting into service
- manipulatingInfluencing through cunning
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
presuming · milking · leveraging · opportunism · entitlement · ingratitude · shamelessness · audacity · gall
deadweight
Inert, unproductive mass
millstone · encumbrance · drag · hindrance · imposition · strain · weight · obligation · onus · dependent
- bad behaviorcheating, stealing, lying, greed, selfishness
- pet peevesannoyance, loud chewing, irritation, loud talking, frustration
- slang behaviorsgoofing off, messing around, fooling around, horsing around, slacking
- moochingmooch, moocher, mooching, sponger, sponging
- parasitismbloodsucking, leeching, exploiting, nest parasitism, infecting
- opportunismcapitalizing, cashing in, self-serving, maneuvering, leveraging
freeloadingcontributing
Giving to a cause
pulling one's weight · giving · reciprocating · pitching in · chipping in
freeloadingself-sufficiency
Independence from outside aid
earning · self-reliance · independence · breadwinning · working for a living
unload, loads, loaded, loading, unloaded, loader, freeloader, reloading, freeloaders