sponger
/ˈspʌndʒɚ/
Meanings
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A person who obtains goods or services by deception, manipulation, or other dishonest means.
- "He was a sponger who lived off the generosity of others, never contributing anything in return."
- "Despite having a good job and a comfortable income, she found herself becoming a sponger, constantly borrowing money from her friends and family, never repaying them in full."
Synonyms
moocher
Rhymes
Words rhyming with spongerborrower , crower , flayer , payer , sayer , weaver
Homophones
Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,-
sponger, sponsor, spongy
Variants
List of all variants of sponger that leads to same resultsponge , sponged , sponger , spongers , sponges , sponging
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).The term 'sponger' can take various forms depending on the context in which it is used. For example, in the context of literature, the term 'sponger' can refer to a character who takes advantage of the generosity or resources of others, often without any regard for the feelings or well-being of those who are being taken advantage of. In the context of business, the term 'sponger' can refer to an individual or organization that obtains goods or services by deception, manipulation, or other dishonest means, often without any intention of paying for the goods or services that have been obtained. In the context of social relationships, the term 'sponger' can refer to an individual who obtains the emotional support, companionship, or other forms of emotional nourishment that they need from others, often without any intention of giving anything in return. In all of these contexts, the term 'sponger' is used to describe someone or something that is obtaining something of value from others, often without any intention of giving anything in return.
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.The term 'sponger' originated in the late 18th century, derived from the word 'sponge', which refers to a porous substance that absorbs liquids. The term 'sponger' was likely used to describe someone who absorbs or takes advantage of the generosity or resources of others, much like a sponge absorbs liquids.
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.The term 'sponger' has been used in various forms of literature and art to describe someone who takes advantage of the generosity or resources of others. For example, in Charles Dickens' novel 'Bleak House', there is a character named Esther Summerson, who describes herself as a 'sponger' when she reflects on the fact that she has been living off the generosity of her wealthy aunt, Mrs. Jellyby. In another example, in the English poet John Donne's poem 'A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning', there is a metaphorical description of the union between two lovers as being like 'two bodies' that are 'joined' together, 'two souls' that are 'divided' and yet 'joined' together, and 'two spirits' that are 'entwined' and yet remain 'free'. In this metaphorical description of the union between two lovers, the term 'joined' is used to describe the way in which the two bodies, souls, and spirits are united together. This use of the term 'joined' to describe the way in which two things are united together is similar to the way in which the term 'sponger' is used to describe someone who takes advantage of the generosity or resources of others. In both cases, the term is used to describe someone or something that is united or connected to something else in a way that is not fully reciprocal or mutually beneficial.
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