parasitical
Living off others
Parasitical means living as or characteristic of a parasite—an organism that feeds off another without contributing anything in return.
The word is almost always figurative and disapproving: a parasitical relationship, parasitical relatives who never leave.
Interchangeable with parasitic, though parasitic is more common in scientific contexts.
Extracting blood for nourishment
- leechingExtracting gradually, parasitically
- freeloadingExploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
- spongingTaking without reciprocating
predatory · vampiric · opportunistic · extractive · usurious · manipulative · profiteering · unscrupulous
Organism feeding on plasma
- medicinal leechBlood-drawing annelid for treatment
- anticoagulantSubstance preventing blood clots
- annelidSegmented worm phylum member
- segmentedDivided into sections
proboscis · attachment · feeding · engorged · detachment · aquatic
One receiving guests
- infestationPest takeover situation
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
pathogen · virus · bacteria · fungus · tapeworm · lice · fleas · ticks
Pest takeover situation
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- spreadTo distribute widely
proliferation · displacement · overrun · entrenchment · establishment · incursion · dominance · outcompete
bloodsucking
Extracting blood for nourishment
- leechingExtracting gradually, parasitically
- freeloadingExploiting others' generosity
- moochingHabitually seeking handouts
sponging · predatory · vampiric · opportunistic · extractive · usurious · manipulative · profiteering · unscrupulous · rapacious
bloodsucker
Organism feeding on plasma
- medicinal leechBlood-drawing annelid for treatment
- anticoagulantSubstance preventing blood clots
- annelidSegmented worm phylum member
segmented · proboscis · attachment · feeding · engorged · detachment · aquatic
host
One receiving guests
- infestationPest takeover situation
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
mutualism · pathogen · virus · bacteria · fungus · tapeworm · lice · fleas · ticks · mosquitoes
infestation
Pest takeover situation
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
spread · proliferation · displacement · overrun · entrenchment · establishment · incursion · dominance · outcompete · alien
parasiticalmutualistic
Beneficial to both parties
independent · self-sufficient · symbiotic · mutually beneficial · autonomous
parasiticalproductive
Generating useful output
contributory · beneficial · generative · nurturing · supportive
parasiticalindependent
Free from external control
self-sufficient · autonomous · self-reliant · self-sustaining · autotrophic
- parasitic relationshipOne organism drains another
- parasitic diseaseCondition caused by host-dependent organisms
- parasitic wormsOrganisms inhabiting host bodies
- parasitic behaviorExploiting others for gain
- parasitic waspsInsects breeding inside others
- parasitic infectionsDiseases from host-dwelling organisms