Meaning & use

parasitical

adjective·Advanced

Last updated

Relating to or characteristic of a parasite; living off or exploiting another without giving anything in return.

See it in a sentence

The tapeworm has a parasitical relationship with its host.

Critics called the corporation's practices parasitical, draining resources from local communities.

A note on using this word

While "parasitic" is the more common form, "parasitical" is an accepted variant used interchangeably, especially in older or more formal writing.

Words with a similar meaning

parasiticexploitative

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Words with an opposite meaning

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