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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sponges
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
The new-to-science species catalogued so far include brittlestars, crabs, sea anemones and sponges.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
Historians believe that sailors may have used these elastic egg capsules as sponges.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
It is made of durable, waterproof Oxford cloth and features sponges inside to hold the wires in place.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
This form of biological clock mechanism appears even in ancient lineages, including sponges and some jellyfish.
—Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Fresh flowers burst explosively out of each cake, swinging jauntily over stacks of vanilla sponges and creamy frostings.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
In a study published by the International Journal of Food Science, researchers analyzed over 200 kitchen sponges, finding a host of bacteria alongside yeast and mold.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 Mar. 2026
Glass sponges build intricate, mesh-like skeletons out of silica — the same material used to make glass.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
Brushes harbor much less bacteria than sponges.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
The new-to-science species catalogued so far include brittlestars, crabs, sea anemones and sponges.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
Historians believe that sailors may have used these elastic egg capsules as sponges.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
It is made of durable, waterproof Oxford cloth and features sponges inside to hold the wires in place.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
This form of biological clock mechanism appears even in ancient lineages, including sponges and some jellyfish.
—Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Fresh flowers burst explosively out of each cake, swinging jauntily over stacks of vanilla sponges and creamy frostings.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
In a study published by the International Journal of Food Science, researchers analyzed over 200 kitchen sponges, finding a host of bacteria alongside yeast and mold.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 Mar. 2026
Glass sponges build intricate, mesh-like skeletons out of silica — the same material used to make glass.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponges
Noun
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Greenland Sharks Are Effective Hunters Many Greenland sharks are partially blind due to parasites on their eyes.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the second stage, the parasites invade the brain and central nervous system, causing severe neurological problems including confusion, dramatic disruptions to sleep patterns and, in advanced cases, coma.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lady Funari’s food, drinks Among the menu items grew straight from Funari’s kitchen are the Spaghetti & Blue Crab, a two-course experience inspired by a longstanding family tradition.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The event will feature sing-alongs, live DJs, photo opportunities and themed food and drinks deals.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That begs the question, why bother with hydrogen?—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The almost-haunting minute-and-a-half trailer begs the question — is Mulligan’s Lindsay happy with Isaac’s Josh.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The jungle, in the Truong Son range between Laos and the South China Sea, is home to tigers and leeches.—
Nicole Young,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Dysmenorrhea might be treated by placing leeches on the abdomen to increase blood loss.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Eggs Protein is more satiating than fat or carbohydrates, and your body absorbs protein from eggs particularly well, stimulating PYY and GLP-1, while suppressing ghrelin.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2026
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But the improvement may not last long as the American economy absorbs fallout from the Iran war and a surge in oil prices.—
Paul Wiseman,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sponges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponges. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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