parasitizations

/ˌpɛrəsɪtɪˈzeɪʃənz/
noun
  1. The process or condition of being infested or infected by a parasite (an organism that lives on or inside another and feeds on it).
    • The biologist studied parasitizations in the forest to understand how they affect the local deer population.
    • The parasitizations of the fish by tiny worms caused them to become weak and thin.
    • Farmers worry about parasitizations in their livestock, which can reduce milk production.
  2. The act of one organism or person living off another in a way that harms the host, often used figuratively.
    • Some critics see the rise of freeloaders as a form of social parasitizations on the welfare system.
    • The company's parasitizations of smaller startups drained their resources and ideas.
    • The novel explores the parasitizations of the rich upon the poor in a dystopian society.