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
-
Consider drinking herbal tea, taking a hot shower, or reading before bed.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
17 Sep. 2025 -
According to experts and research, there can be both pros and cons to drinking orange juice on an empty stomach.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The 60-yard Spencer Shrader field goal attempt that went begging short and right.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Give them a reason to reconsider without begging for attention.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Peru will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The 12-story building, which is lined with tinted heat-absorbing glass windows, was built between 1953 and 1956.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Sponging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sponging. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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