leech

9 synonyms for leech, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A blood-sucking worm that lives in water, sometimes used medicinally.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

sponge vampire parasite bleed

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sponger bloodsucker hirudinean phlebotomise phlebotomize

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A blood-sucking worm that lives in water, sometimes used medicinally.

“A leech attached itself to his leg while wading through the pond.”

sponge sponger bloodsucker vampire hirudinean parasite

2. verb

To drain something, such as money or resources, without contributing in return.

“His cousin kept leeching off the family's generosity.”

phlebotomise phlebotomize bleed

How to use leech

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

leech off someone a social leech

Etymology

From Old English lǣċe, "blood-sucking worm" — the same root gave Old English the word for "physician," since leeches were once a common medical treatment.

Full origin of leech →

Frequently asked questions

What does “leech” mean?

The word “leech” means a blood-sucking worm that lives in water, sometimes used medicinally. In plain terms, a parasitic worm, or — as an insult — someone who freeloads off others.

How do you pronounce “leech”?

“Leech” is pronounced LEECH (/ˈliːt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “leech” in a sentence?

Here is “leech” used in a sentence: “A leech attached itself to his leg while wading through the pond.”

What is another word for “leech”?

Words with a similar meaning to “leech” include sponger, bloodsucker and vampire.

What part of speech is “leech”?

Depending on how it is used, “leech” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “leech” come from?

The word “leech” comes from Old English. From Old English lǣċe, "blood-sucking worm" — the same root gave Old English the word for "physician," since leeches were once a common medical treatment.

Is “leech” a common word?

“Leech” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “leech” have?

“Leech” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a blood-sucking worm that lives in water, sometimes used medicinally.

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Nearby words

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