1
: a man or boat engaged in gathering sponges
2
: one that sponges something: such as
a
: one that smooths greenware with a sponge
b
: an operator of a machine for sponging and shrinking cloth
c
: an operator of a dough-mixing machine
3
: a parasitical person : cadger
the feckless sponger is held in contempt—Time easy tolerance of spongers looking for a cinch rather than an education—Dixon Wecter
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Merriam-Webster unabridged