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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Recent Examples of sponges
Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
How to Clean Baking Sheets With Aluminum Foil Scouring tools like aluminum foil or copper sponges can remove tough grime from baking sheets.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
How to clean a sponges, dish brush Sponges should be cleaned once a week and replaced every 2-3 weeks.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Don't forget that sponges can also be placed on the top rack to remove bacteria and grime.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
The same rule applies to abrasive sponges or metal scrubbers.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Damp Items Washcloths, dish towels, loofahs, and wet sponges should never be left on the counters.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026
Multi-density sponges – wrapped in impossibly soft elastic micro-linen fabric – in the seat and headrest contoured to every curve in my anatomy, deliberately cupping each vertebra as if the chair were custom fitted to me, and me only.
—New Atlas, 1 Jan. 2026
As a quick recap, the microscopic, needle-like structures derived from sea sponges act as both a liquid exfoliant and a vehicle for other ingredients, creating micro-channels in your skin (somewhat similar to microneedling) so that other ingredients can penetrate deeper into the skin’s dermis.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
Located inside the Lamar Bathhouse, the shop is open daily, selling a variety of souvenirs that highlight the area's history, flora and fauna, and, of course, bath products—everything from fancy soaps and loofah sponges to bottles that can be filled with water from the hot springs.
—Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
How to Clean Baking Sheets With Aluminum Foil Scouring tools like aluminum foil or copper sponges can remove tough grime from baking sheets.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
How to clean a sponges, dish brush Sponges should be cleaned once a week and replaced every 2-3 weeks.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Don't forget that sponges can also be placed on the top rack to remove bacteria and grime.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
The same rule applies to abrasive sponges or metal scrubbers.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Damp Items Washcloths, dish towels, loofahs, and wet sponges should never be left on the counters.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026
Multi-density sponges – wrapped in impossibly soft elastic micro-linen fabric – in the seat and headrest contoured to every curve in my anatomy, deliberately cupping each vertebra as if the chair were custom fitted to me, and me only.
—New Atlas, 1 Jan. 2026
As a quick recap, the microscopic, needle-like structures derived from sea sponges act as both a liquid exfoliant and a vehicle for other ingredients, creating micro-channels in your skin (somewhat similar to microneedling) so that other ingredients can penetrate deeper into the skin’s dermis.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponges
Noun
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And there is a risk of the parasites becoming dormant for years before reactivating and destroying a new cornea.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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There's no shortage of parasites eating away at her sanity.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Emily can pull together a cooking class with an Italian Duchess or a dinner at the resplendent Villa la Tasca, even, possibly, drinks with Count Guiseppe Tasca himself.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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Find skate rentals, snacks, and drinks at the warming house.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Chelsea’s appointment of Liam Rosenior is at least understandable in terms of his work within the BlueCo network, which begs the question of why Ratcliffe’s own multi-club operation could not provide United with a wider network to tap into.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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Hopper begs her to believe there is another way.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The ancestors of leeches were unlikely to have sucked blood.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
23 Nov. 2025
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Those who predicted a doomed future for all of humanity called us addicts and criminals, leeches and slime (and way worse things) because we were detested, shouted at, dragged by our arms across bedrooms and public sporting events.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Unlike glossy black, this effect absorbs light in a subtle way, creating a richer, more modern visual texture.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
9 Jan. 2026
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And although lightweight, the shoe doesn’t compromise on support — it’s designed with a memory foam sole that absorbs impact and provides an extra layer of padding.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sponges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponges. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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