parasitic

/ˌpɛrəˈsɪtɪk/
adjective
  1. Relating to or caused by a parasite (an organism that lives on a host).
    • The vet prescribed medicine to treat the cat's parasitic skin condition.
    • The dog had a parasitic infection that caused it to lose weight.
    • Parasitic worms can live in the human digestive system for years.
  2. Living or behaving like a parasite; taking advantage of others without giving anything back.
    • The company's parasitic business model relied on exploiting small suppliers.
    • She ended the friendship because of his parasitic habit of always asking for favors.
    • His parasitic lifestyle annoyed his family, as he never contributed to household expenses.
Synonyms