1. to live on or in another organism as a parasite
Usage: British spelling; American spelling is ‘parasitize’
2. to exploit or take advantage of someone or something
Usage: figurative use

Examples

• Fleas parasitise dogs and cats by feeding on their blood.
• The mistletoe parasitises oak trees by drawing nutrients from their branches.
• Certain bacteria parasitise larger organisms to survive.
• The company was accused of parasitising local resources without giving back to the community.
• Some politicians parasitise public sentiment for personal gain.
• The invasive species began to parasitise native plants in the ecosystem.