1
as in drinking
to take in (something liquid) through small openings
the ground quickly sponged up the much-needed rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sponging
Verb
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While for me, drinking coffee felt like a bad habit—there are proven health benefits when enjoying it in moderation.—
Emma Bocchi,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2024 -
The wealthier ones lounge by the sea in the evening, drinking coffee and dangling their feet in the Red Sea.—
Declan Walsh,
New York Times,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Instead, he has officially been recast as a villain that fans have been begging for since James Gunn took the reins.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
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That's the question begging for answers after court documents revealed horrific details about the abuse 7-year-old Kayden Gavarrete suffered for months before dying three days before Christmas.—
Jade Jackson,
The Indianapolis Star,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Taking a look at the cover art really helps with absorbing the concept.—
Eoghan O'Donnell,
Vogue,
30 Dec. 2024
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Success meant absorbing the abstract pattern and predicting which feeder would open the next day—a feat that may require not just associative learning but executive functioning, which can include the abilities to assess a situation, make plans, and put them into action.—
Matthew Hutson,
The New Yorker,
29 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Sponging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponging. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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