scrounger
scrounger Lexical Profile
scrounger Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who borrows from or lives off others without giving anything in return.
"He gained a reputation as an office scrounger who always asked coworkers for spare change and snacks."
Someone or something that searches around to find and collect useful items, food, or supplies by foraging or salvaging.
"During the supply shortage, the mechanic became a resourceful scrounger of spare parts from abandoned vehicles."
Word Nuance & Usage
Primarily used in informal and derogatory contexts to criticize someone perceived as living off the generosity of others or unfairly claiming public welfare.
• Rhymes for scrounger
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived in the early 20th century as an agent noun from the verb 'scrounge', an alteration of the earlier English dialect word 'scringe', meaning to search about or pilfer.