sap

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: the fluid part of a plant
specifically : a watery solution that circulates through a plant's vascular system
b(1)
: a body fluid (such as blood) essential to life, health, or vigor
(2)
: bodily health and vigor
2
: a foolish gullible person
3
[probably short for sapling] : blackjack, bludgeon
sapless adjective
saplessness noun

sap

2 of 4

verb (1)

sapped; sapping

transitive verb

1
: to drain or deprive of sap
2
: to knock out with a sap

sap

3 of 4

verb (2)

sapped; sapping

intransitive verb

: to proceed by digging a sap

transitive verb

1
: to subvert by digging or eroding the substratum or foundation : undermine
2
a
: to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of
sapped her strength
b
: to weaken or exhaust the energy or vitality of
the illness sapped him of his stamina
3
: to operate against or pierce by a sap

sap

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications
Choose the Right Synonym for sap

weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor.

weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think

disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

Examples of sap in a Sentence

Noun (1) a child full of sap and vivacity some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years Verb (1) weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The elm was torn, up high, and from the tear ran sap the warbler pecked at, for the sweet itself or for the insects smudged in it. Caleb Crain, The New York Review of Books, 26 Sep. 2024 Inflation and grocery costs Inflation has sapped household budgets since 2021, when prices started rising due to the impact of the pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains and prompted the federal government to pump trillions into the economy. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2024 Kursk could similarly sap Russian offensive strength, shifting the fight to Russian territory. Michael Kofman, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2024 California saps taxpayers with the highest top state income tax rate at 14.4%. The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 14 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for sap 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English sæp; akin to Old High German saf sap

Verb (2)

Middle French sapper, from Old Italian zappare, from zappa hoe

Noun (2)

French sape, from saper

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1642, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sap was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sap

Cite this Entry

“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sap. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

sap

1 of 2 noun
1
: the fluid part of a plant
especially : a watery solution that circulates through a higher plant and carries food and nutrients
2
: bodily health and vigor : vitality sense 3b
3
: a foolish person who is easily tricked or cheated

sap

2 of 2 verb
sapped; sapping
1
: undermine sense 2
heavy waves sapped the seawall
2
: to weaken gradually
illness sapped my strength

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on sap

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