Hangers-on are individuals who attach themselves to a group or individual to gain benefits, attention, or societal status. However, there are various synonyms to describe these kinds of people. Some of these synonyms include leeches, sycophants, parasites, toadies, followers, acolytes, minions, camp followers, flatterers, and lackeys. Each of these terms describes someone who latches onto someone else to meet their own needs, follow them blindly, or benefit from their success. Ultimately, anyone who sticks around for exploitative reasons can be considered a hanger-on. Employing these synonyms instead of hangers-on can add some flair and variety to your writing while still conveying the same message.