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Synonyms

bloodsucking

American  
[bluhd-suhk-ing] / ˈblʌdˌsʌk ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. being or relating to an animal or mythical being that feeds on blood.

    Bloodsucking insects are common in this part of the world.

    In the film, bloodsucking aliens descend on a small town.

  2. being or relating to a person or organization who preys on, exploits, or takes advantage of others.

    He denounced his rival politicians as bloodsucking fraudsters living large on their constituents' money.


Etymology

Origin of bloodsucking

First recorded in 1545–55; blood ( def. ) + suck ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

I asked whether Dafoe thought a movie about a bloodsucking, diseased creature and the horror he unleashes on a 19th Century German town was the perfect antidote to a day of family festivities.

From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2024

Ticks are small, eight-legged bloodsucking parasites — arachnids, not insects — that feed on animals and sometimes people.

From Seattle Times ● May 17, 2024

The tiny, bloodsucking parasites that infest our scalps?

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 7, 2023

But which products best protect against these biting and bloodsucking pests?

From National Geographic ● Jun. 30, 2023

And when I came up to the cage to see these ugly bloodsucking creatures, I had to look right into this little kid’s face that had a smirk on it.

From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel

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