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
sapped; sapping
sapped; sapping
: to proceed by digging a sap
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
: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications
Synonyms
Examples of sap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maanvi Singh, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024
Anger and an exodus Even though Clare Locke had stuck with Dominion, questions about its commitment to the case had sapped some partners’ confidence in the firm’s leadership — the latest in a long list of grievances.
—David Enrich, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
That familiarity has also sapped much of the excitement in the liberal media’s fight against Trump, and for democracy.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
The company’s stock has largely recovered from a slump endured in 2022 when a cost-of-living squeeze sapped demand for big-ticket items such as beds and hot tubs.
—Damian Shepherd, Fortune Europe, 8 Mar. 2024
Insufficient iron, most easily absorbed from meat, saps energy and affects the ability to concentrate.
—Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed three bills into law aimed at strengthening the country's beleaguered forces, which are trying to hold the front lines in fighting that has sapped Ukraine's ranks and stores of weapons and ammunition.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Apr. 2024
The Colorado — long viewed as a water lifeline for the West — has been sapped by drought, overuse and climate change, and California and six other states are in tense negotiations about how to permanently cut back.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Towler said that lukewarm enthusiasm for Biden and the party at large could sap traditionally reliable Black turnout with potential consequences for Democratic fortunes — and American democracy — in November.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
But with hardened sap — and even fresh sap from pines — this probably won’t be enough.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
The process involves sourcing readily available ingredients, such as plants, tree sap, or stone, which are then burned to soot, melted, or ground into powders with a mortar and pestle.
—Zahra Hankir, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024
The key ingredients for this new expression are palm sap from Nigeria and Ghana and South African pineapple.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024
Natural latex is sustainable, made from the sap of rubber trees.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2023
From Nebraska to New York, 15 broods of periodical cicadas grow underground, quietly sipping watery sap from tree roots.
—Celia Ford, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Classified as a plant-hopper, the insect jumps from organism to organism to feed on their sap, affecting over 70 species.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
In these particular broods, young cicadas, called nymphs, feed on sap from tree roots underground for 13 or 17 years, depending on the species’ life cycle.
—Keely Brewer, The Daily Memphian, and Brittney J. Miller, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Journal Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
The climate crisis and chronic overuse have sapped the Colorado River watershed, leaving cities and farmers alike to contend with shortages.
—Maanvi Singh, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024
Anger and an exodus Even though Clare Locke had stuck with Dominion, questions about its commitment to the case had sapped some partners’ confidence in the firm’s leadership — the latest in a long list of grievances.
—David Enrich, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
That familiarity has also sapped much of the excitement in the liberal media’s fight against Trump, and for democracy.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
The company’s stock has largely recovered from a slump endured in 2022 when a cost-of-living squeeze sapped demand for big-ticket items such as beds and hot tubs.
—Damian Shepherd, Fortune Europe, 8 Mar. 2024
Insufficient iron, most easily absorbed from meat, saps energy and affects the ability to concentrate.
—Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed three bills into law aimed at strengthening the country's beleaguered forces, which are trying to hold the front lines in fighting that has sapped Ukraine's ranks and stores of weapons and ammunition.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Apr. 2024
The Colorado — long viewed as a water lifeline for the West — has been sapped by drought, overuse and climate change, and California and six other states are in tense negotiations about how to permanently cut back.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Towler said that lukewarm enthusiasm for Biden and the party at large could sap traditionally reliable Black turnout with potential consequences for Democratic fortunes — and American democracy — in November.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024
Noun
Advertising dollars depend on eyeballs fixed to the game, so this sort of engagement is a win-win — for the leagues and their advertisers at least, if not always for the saps placing the bets.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
But with hardened sap — and even fresh sap from pines — this probably won’t be enough.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
The process involves sourcing readily available ingredients, such as plants, tree sap, or stone, which are then burned to soot, melted, or ground into powders with a mortar and pestle.
—Zahra Hankir, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024
The key ingredients for this new expression are palm sap from Nigeria and Ghana and South African pineapple.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024
Natural latex is sustainable, made from the sap of rubber trees.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2023
From Nebraska to New York, 15 broods of periodical cicadas grow underground, quietly sipping watery sap from tree roots.
—Celia Ford, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Classified as a plant-hopper, the insect jumps from organism to organism to feed on their sap, affecting over 70 species.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
In these particular broods, young cicadas, called nymphs, feed on sap from tree roots underground for 13 or 17 years, depending on the species’ life cycle.
—Keely Brewer, The Daily Memphian, and Brittney J. Miller, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Journal Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2024
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sap. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sap
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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