Bloodsucking: meaning, definitions and examples

descriptive term

Bloodsucking refers to the act of feeding on the blood of other organisms, typically associated with certain creatures like vampires, leeches, and mosquitoes. This term can also be used metaphorically to describe people or entities that exploit others for their own gain. The imagery of bloodsucking evokes a sense of predation and parasitism, highlighting the often destructive nature of such interactions.

exploitative, parasitic, predatory

Examples of usage

• The bloodsucking mosquito buzzed around my ear.

• Many myths feature bloodsucking vampires as central characters.

• Some plants, like the Venus flytrap, are not bloodsucking but still ensnare their prey.