Scroungers

Scroungers refer to individuals who obtain resources, such as food, money, or goods, by borrowing, begging, or finding them, often without offering anything of equal value in return. This behavior can be seen as opportunistic, sometimes driven by necessity but also potentially exploitative. The term often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of self-reliance and a tendency to take advantage of others. While sometimes synonymous with 'beggars' or 'freeloaders,' scrounging doesn't always involve directly asking for something; it can also involve finding or acquiring items discarded by others.

Scroungers meaning with examples

• After the job loss, they became reliant on scrounging for meals from local food banks and accepting hand-me-downs from friends. Their situation, while difficult, was a stark example of how easily people can fall into scrounging for basic needs when lacking resources. They sought support but often with a heavy reliance on handouts.
• He was known as a scrounger, always looking for a free meal or a favor. His friends would often leave him because he was always seeking to get something from them for free. He seemed to take pride in avoiding work and lived a life of constant searching for opportunities to avoid having to pay.
• The resourceful kids turned to scrounging around the abandoned lot for usable materials, like old wood and metal, to build their treehouse. They were not asking, instead, they were looking to see what they could discover and repurpose. This became a challenge and game for the group.
• During the economic downturn, many families resorted to scrounging for discounted groceries and seeking assistance programs to make ends meet. They had to find ways to provide for their families and their options were limited. It was an act of survival, but not the lives that they sought to lead.
• The survivalists were expert scroungers, able to find edible plants and build shelters from discarded items in the wilderness. They knew how to be frugal, how to make do with what they had. This skill became a key part of their success, their ability to be self-reliant.