noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   One who uses a sponge.
2. 2
   a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage wordnet
3. 3
   A parasitic hanger-on.
4. 4
   a workman employed to collect sponges wordnet
5. 5
   A person or vessel employed in gathering sponges from the sea.

Show 1 more definition

6. 6
   A device for sponging cloth by means of a perforated adjustable cylinder.

Synonyms

All synonyms

cadgerleechmoocherbarnaclebeatbeggar

Etymology

From sponge + -er.

Related phrases

hanger on

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.