1
as in drinking
to take in (something liquid) through small openings
the ground quickly sponged up the much-needed rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in begging
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
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Recent Examples of sponging
While the sponging industry has diminished over the years (largely because most modern-day consumers use artificial versions for dish scrubbing and housecleaning), there’s still a considerable market for the natural ones, especially in Europe.
—
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponging
Verb
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The continuum of problem drinking There aren’t just two types of drinkers –– those who have a problem and those who don’t have to worry about it, Dick said.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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But generally, fewer people are seeking out these whales, so fewer are being made, partly because people are not drinking as many high-octane, high alcohol beers.—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After making its first appearance at the 2024 Live Más Live event, the dessert quickly built a cult-like reputation online, with fans sharing mockups, memes and petitions begging for a real release.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Yep, the 115 is the go-to when the faucet’s turned on and the trees are begging for tracks.—
Kimberly Beekman,
Outside,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Plant sterols and stanols block the body from absorbing cholesterol.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
8 Jan. 2026
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What has emerged for now is a system that survived by adapting, absorbing pressure, and recalibrating external relationships while preserving its internal foundations.—
Sanam Vakil,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the whale breaches.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The specter of freeloading corporations using more space, water, and energy for AI processing has defined the race for the 30th House of Delegates district, well outside DC.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sponging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponging. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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