sponges 1 of 2

Definition of spongesnext
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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sponges

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sponge
1
as in drinks
to take in (something liquid) through small openings the ground quickly sponged up the much-needed rain

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2
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

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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
Besides cleaning, sponges are a useful, inexpensive tool in the garden, closet, craft area, and beyond. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 June 2026 Soak sponges and dishcloths in a solution of 1/4 cup bleach and a gallon of water daily for 5 minutes to keep them clean and germ-free. Emerson Latham, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2026 Biodegradable sponges are a great option for adding to your compost pile. Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 May 2026 And for less studied organisms, such as sea sponges, that timeline can be even longer. K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 24 May 2026 Dedicated studio spaces were created within the facility so Kongo could paint interior components by hand with airbrushes, brushes, and sponges. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponges
Noun
  • Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that can transmit dangerous viruses and bacteria, including Lyme disease.
    Dan Simms, USA Today, 4 June 2026
  • The first detection of these parasites in the United States in 6 decades was recorded in South Texas this week.
    Dawn White, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • The character is an adult who drinks, wears impeccable clothing, and beds women—the familiar Bond tropes.
    Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
  • Assuming that the account in her journal is true, her father goes out and drinks himself into a ‘paralytic’ state.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Mercury’s clash with Neptune begs you to hold off on signing on the dotted line.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 3 June 2026
  • While Huang may be doing his best to share Nvidia’s profits with its employees, the much wider picture begs the question of how massive investments into AI might reinforce existing wealth inequality.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The wetland habitats of Condylura cristata are rich in small-bodied invertebrates — earthworms, leeches, aquatic insect larvae — but the individual caloric value of each prey item is low.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • Crappie like to hover below their prey, fining in place and examining slow-swimming invertebrates such as damselfly, dragonfly, and mayfly nymphs, as well as small leeches.
    Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Other minor risks include scrotum congestion (a sense of discomfort or pressure that usually resolves over time) and sperm granuloma (a non-dangerous lump that the body usually absorbs) and pain, the clinic adds.
    Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • Taco night can swing from chicken to beans to leftover roasted vegetables and grain bowl night absorbs whatever produce is about to turn.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sponges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponges. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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