sap

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈsap 

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

ˈsa-pləs 

adjective

saplessness

ˈsa-pləs-nəs 

noun

sap

2 of 5

verb (1)

sapped; sapping

transitive verb

1

: to drain or deprive of sap

2

: to knock out with a sap

sap

3 of 5

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 patience

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 5

noun (2)

: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications

sapless

5 of 5

adjective

sap·​less ˈsaplə̇s 

1

a

: destitute of sap or other vital juices : dry

the wood dry and splintered and dead, the rats and roaches scurrying along the sapless planks

—Norman Mailer

b

: barren and unproductive from lack of moisture

a rock, barren, and herbless, and sapless

—E. G. Bulwer-Lytton

2

: lacking vitality : lifeless, feeble

my mother's hair at this time was full of gray and her body looked sapless

—Nadine Gordimer

3

: being without substantial value : insipid

a somewhat sapless tale of a poor little rich girl and a rich little poor boy

—Florence Bullock

saplessness noun

plural -es

Synonyms of sap

Noun (1)

• energy
• vigor
• juice
• gas

Verb (1)

• weaken
• waste
• soften

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

Noun

These orange and black pests, also known as calico beetles, can attack raspberry bushes by sucking out the plant sap, destroying any hope of a harvest. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 10 June 2026

Although aphids have a reputation for being harmful, sap-sucking pests that wreak havoc on the garden, these insects aren't always a bad thing. —Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 31 May 2026

Verb

San Antonio shot a collective 11-for-16 from deep, essentially sapping away any effort the Knicks made to rectify their unexpected Game 3 loss in their first Finals home in 27 years. —Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Rising gas prices from the war in Iran have sapped potential investment money from American pocketbooks. —Aly J Yale, CBS News, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Adjective

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

Phrases Containing sap

• cell sap
• nuclear sap
• sap green
• verb sap
• verbum sap

Rhymes for sap

• app
• cap
• chap
• clap
• crap
• flap
• frap
• gap
• hap
• lap
• nap
• nappe

Kids Definition

sap

1 of 2 noun

ˈsap 

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

sap

see cell sap, nuclear sap