parasitize
Feed off another
To parasitize is to live on or in another organism as a parasite, drawing sustenance at the host's expense: Cuckoos parasitize other birds' nests, laying eggs for unwitting foster parents to raise.
Extended to any exploitative relationship: The company parasitized local resources without giving back to the community.
Also spelled parasitise in British English.
Control through clever influence
- preyAnimal being hunted
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- moochObtain by begging
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
sponge · dependent · user · opportunist · one-sided · extract · burden · drain
One receiving guests
- obligateCommit by necessity
- ectoparasiteOrganism feeding on host externally
- endoparasiteParasite living inside host
- parasitoidHost-dependent killer organism
pathogen · life-cycle · vector · transmission · infection · infestation · larvae · brood
deplete
Greatly reduce supply
consume · siphon · extract · leech · bleed · tap · suck · draw · drain · impoverish
manipulate
Control through clever influence
freeloader · sponge · dependent · user · opportunist · one-sided · extract · burden · drain · impose
host
One receiving guests
- obligateCommit by necessity
- ectoparasiteOrganism feeding on host externally
- endoparasiteParasite living inside host
parasitoid · pathogen · life-cycle · vector · transmission · infection · infestation · larvae · brood · feeding
lice
Bloodsucking scalp insects
worms · bedbugs · mosquitoes · aphids · wasps · flies · nematodes · larvae · vermin · overrun
- exploitationexploit, predatory, sex trafficking, take advantage, human trafficking
- parasitic relationshipOne organism drains another
- parasitic diseaseCondition caused by host-dependent organisms
- parasitic wormsOrganisms inhabiting host bodies
- nest parasitismExploiting others' parental care
- parasitic behaviorExploiting others for gain
- parasitic waspsInsects breeding inside others
parasitic, parasitism, parasitical, parasitized, parasitically, parasitizing