parasitize
/ˈpɛrəsaɪtaɪz/
verb
- To live on or inside another organism and feed from it, causing harm to the host.
- Tapeworms parasitize the intestines of many animals, including humans.
- Certain fungi parasitize plants, draining their nutrients and weakening them.
- The biologist studied how the wasp larvae parasitize caterpillars in the wild.
- To take advantage of someone or something for personal gain, often in a harmful or unfair way.
- He felt his friend was trying to parasitize his success by constantly asking for favors.
- The scammer tried to parasitize the charity by stealing donations meant for the needy.
- Some companies parasitize small startups by copying their ideas without permission.
Antonyms