sponger

as in parasite
a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return a sponger who moved in with friends and seems to be in no hurry to get a job and pay a share of the rent

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponger
Noun
  • These methods sort through the DNA in a sample looking for specific genes that are signatures of parasites like pinworms, as well as bacterial pathogens.
    Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Extreme temperatures, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria are also major dangers.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Lightly scrub with a sponge or soft brush, then remove the product.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Plants act like sponges, Martineau explained.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Sponger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponger. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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