Thesaurus results for LEECHING

leeching

verb

present participle of leech

as in sponging

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for leeching

Verb

In the collision of spice, sharpness and seedy crunch, and in the sponging way potatoes soak up butter, the intensity never seems like too much.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
While the sponging industry has diminished over the years (largely because most modern-day consumers use artificial versions for dish scrubbing and housecleaning), there’s still a considerable market for the natural ones, especially in Europe.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026

Definition of sponging

Verb

Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the whale breaches.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
The specter of freeloading corporations using more space, water, and energy for AI processing has defined the race for the 30th House of Delegates district, well outside DC.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025

Definition of freeloading

Verb

Meanwhile, the palace has been besieged by loutish suitors, led by the scheming Antinous (Robert Pattinson), all of them vying for the queen’s hand in remarriage and mooching off the absent king’s food and wine.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
On top of that, Nico is also, quite obviously, just mooching off/clinging to Mindy because he got cut off by his family.

— Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025

Definition of mooching

Verb

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of discovering and exploiting complex vulnerabilities, independent cybersecurity validation becomes even more important.

— Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
In an interview with Fox News, Border Patrol Agent Jose Navarro said cartels may be exploiting unsuspecting members of the public, including rideshare drivers.

— Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Definition of exploiting

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leeches

leeching

leer

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“Leeching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leeching. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of leeching

verb

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