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
  • Eating prey can be dangerous for cats, especially mice, which can carry disease, parasites and even poison.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
  • Food poisoning can be caused by viruses or parasites, but the most common culprits are bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Listeria and Clostridium—often found on or inside animals.
    Amanda Heidt, Scientific American, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Use a microfiber cloth or a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub the knob.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
  • Aggregation and scale allow governments to act as sponges for widespread risk.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 8 July 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 22 Jul. 2025.

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