parasitic

[ par-uh-sit-ik ]
See synonyms for parasitic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of parasites.

  2. (of diseases) due to parasites.

  1. Phonetics. excrescent (def. 2).

Origin of parasitic

1
1620–30; <Latin parasīticus<Greek parasītikós.See parasite, -ic
  • Sometimes par·a·sit·i·cal .

Other words from parasitic

  • par·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • par·a·sit·i·cal·ness, noun
  • an·ti·par·a·sit·ic, noun, adjective
  • an·ti·par·a·sit·i·cal, adjective
  • an·ti·par·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·par·a·sit·ic, adjective
  • non·par·a·sit·i·cal, adjective
  • non·par·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • pseu·do·par·a·sit·ic, adjective
  • un·par·a·sit·ic, adjective
  • un·par·a·sit·i·cal, adjective
  • un·par·a·sit·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use parasitic in a sentence

  • He was one of those rare eastern potentates who wasn't hampered by parasitical relatives.

    The Adventures of Kathlyn | Harold MacGrath
  • These parasitical worms are about an inch and a half long and taper to a point at each end.

    The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
  • He discovered parasitical mites all over them on the outside, and the flesh contained many worms.

    The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas Mawson
  • The solid balls of these cannon formed pyramids, and parasitical vegetation had crept in between these iron spheres.

    The Enemies of Women | Vicente Blasco Ibez
  • All the parasitical crustaceans are placed in this first category.

    Animal Parasites and Messmates | P. J. Van Beneden