What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mooch
Example
He's always mooching off his friends for money. [mooching: present participle]
Example
She's such a mooch, always asking for free stuff. [mooch: noun]
sponge
Example
He's such a sponge, always staying at other people's houses and never offering to pay rent. [sponge: noun]
Example
She sponged off her parents for years before finally getting a job. [sponged: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mooch and sponge are both relatively informal words that are not commonly used in formal settings. However, mooch is more commonly used in everyday language than sponge.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mooch and sponge?
Neither mooch nor sponge are particularly formal words, but mooch is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts, including casual and slangy speech. Sponge is less common and may be perceived as more colloquial or regional.
