Synonyms of sponges

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• parasites
• leeches
• spongers
• dependents
• henchmen
• freeloaders
• hangers-on
• free riders
• moochers
• bloodsuckers
• misers
• idlers
• satellites
• deadbeats
• toadies
• sycophants
• lackeys
• stooges
• yes-men
• skinflints
• tightwads
• pikers
• cheapskates
• flunkies
• scrooges

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supporters
• benefactors
• philanthropists

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drinks
• absorbs
• swallows
• soaks (up)
• imbibes
• sips
• sucks (up)
• takes up
• gulps
• slurps
• quaffs
• swills
• swigs
• guzzles

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• begs
• leeches
• freeloads
• mooches
• uses
• exploits

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sponges

Noun

When a reef collapses, hard corals disappear and are replaced by algae, rubble and sponges. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Rock stars have sponges and ammonia lying around the bathroom? — Blake J. Harris, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026

With the knowledge these molecular sponges could aid areas experiencing the effects of climate change, Yaghi founded Atoco to commercialize his academic research. — Martin Cizmar, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, some of the same areas that are closed to bottom trawling for the protection of coral, sponges, crab and other marine life are open to pelagic trawlers. — Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

While melamine sponges are certainly effective cleaning tools, they are also considered an abrasive material and can leave fine scratches all across your stainless steel appliances. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026

While these sponges are perfect for areas like baseboards, walls, and countertops, modern TV screens are not made with the same give. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2026

For more than a century, scientists thought that sponges, or porifera, were the first to branch off — the sister group to all other animals. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 16 Sep. 2026

These non-scratch sponges are safe to use on most surfaces and are easy to rinse clean. — Brooke Knappenberger, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026