Crossword Genius

Pirate as poor becomes sponger (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

parasite

'sponger' is the definition.
(I know that sponger can be written as parasite)

'pirate as poor' is the wordplay.
'poor' is an anagram indicator.
'pirate'+'as'='pirateas'
'pirateas' is an anagram of 'PARASITE'.

'becomes' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for parasite that I've seen before include "Organism growing on or in another" , "It depends on the host" , "unwanted guest" , "It lives off its host" , "One living off another" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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