SPONGES Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

sponges 1 of 2

noun

plural of sponge

as in parasites

a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return finally told the sponge to move out of their house and to get a job

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sponges

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sponge

as in drinks

to take in (something liquid) through small openings the ground quickly sponged up the much-needed rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in begs

to live by relying on someone else's generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility she's been sponging off of her friends while she tries to land an entry-level job on Wall Street

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of sponges

Noun

Use natural dish scrubbers made from cellulose, coconut coir or loofah instead of synthetic sponges. —

Ryan Brennan may 11, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026 Another 2026 study from researchers at the University of Bonn found common kitchen sponges released measurable amounts of microplastics annually. —

Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026 In the wild, marine sponges are delicate, simple living organisms, lacking brains, organs, and nervous systems, despite having risen in pop culture via a certain cartoon character with square pants. —

Erik Trinidad, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026 Damp sponges can be sanitized in the microwave for two minutes on high to eliminate bacteria. —

Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 They are drawn to rotting fruits and vegetables, sugary drinks, vinegar, alcohol, damp and dirty sponges, garbage cans, and sink drains. —

Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 May 2026 The storyline centers on Elaine carefully rationing her limited supply of discontinued contraceptive sponges, forcing her to evaluate whether her partners are worthy of using one. —

Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026 Meanwhile, early versions of mollusks and sponges populated the seafloor as jellyfish floated above. —

Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 1 May 2026 The tide pools around Haystack and elsewhere along Cannon Beach are extraordinary, with colorful sea stars, anemones, crabs, snails, coral, sponges, and sea slugs. —

Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponges

Noun

After being tested for airtightness, helium was pumped into the glass enclosure through thin tubes inserted into the lead lining, to protect the document from corrosive oxygen and parasites.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Always wear gloves before handling nests to protect yourself from any germs or parasites.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026