parasite vs sponger

parasite and sponger both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
parasite	Yes	No	No	No
sponger	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, parasite and sponger are synonyms defined as:

parasite and sponger: a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage

Other synonyms of parasite include leech, sponge.

parasite (noun)	sponger (noun)
an animal or plant that lives in or on a host (another animal or plant); it obtains nourishment from the host without benefiting or killing the host	a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage	a workman employed to collect sponges