as in bribe
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision
as a sop to the teachers' union for supporting his reelection campaign, the mayor promised to push for the abolition of the residency requirement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to soak
to wet thoroughly with liquid
sopped the sponge with the detergent and began scrubbing the floor vigorously
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wet
to make wet
my book fell in the swimming pool and was thoroughly sopped before I could fish it out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dip
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid
hesitant to sop his bread in gravy, no matter how delicious, at such a formal banquet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sop
Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025
Carpenter tosses a green bag of sopping compost into a bin, then bends over to pick up a black plastic bag filled with trash.
—Alana Semuels/waitsfield, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Noun
The reinstatement was an obvious sop to the gambling industry, an MLB partner, and possibly also to President Donald Trump, who lobbied for Rose’s future election into the Hall of Fame.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
Solange, seen in sopping wet tresses this week, creative directed a birthday shoot for Ari Lennox.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025
Carpenter tosses a green bag of sopping compost into a bin, then bends over to pick up a black plastic bag filled with trash.
—Alana Semuels/waitsfield, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
-
He’s responded by turning his ire on the network, directly accusing them of accepting bribes.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 July 2025
-
Francisco Perez, 51, pleaded guilty last January to one count of bribery conspiracy after federal authorities accused him of accepting low-level bribes from employees of three local law firms in return for lowering property value assessments.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Each bedroom has a beautiful bathroom and an adjoining private soaking tub.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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Many of the rooms look out on the Pacific Ocean, including the ample primary suite, where a full wall of windows offers picture-perfect views, while the bathroom’s soaking tub sits beneath yet another window that opens up to the water.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Given the risk to heart issues in people with coronary artery disease, only the 31 healthy participants took part in the fan study (the remaining 27 individuals just underwent skin wetting/no skin wetting conditions).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 July 2025
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Any storms that do form will likely produce wetting rain in the cores but lightning is possible far from these cores in areas that will remain dry.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
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June 23-16: Trump’s approval rating dipped one point, to 41%, in a Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,139 U.S. adults taken June 21-23 from its June 11-16 survey, with 57% disapproving (the latest poll has a 3-point margin of error).—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Adults and kids alike dipped in the Atlantic and a tiki hut boat served shoreside lobster rolls and hot dogs.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
If flooding is observed, then turn around, don't drown.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Aug. 2025
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That means being able to get three to five of the most important things done quickly, while drowning out outside chaos and distractions.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the clip, which Lizzo posted on TikTok, the rapper is seen washing a Porsche while wearing a denim top.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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First wash your hands, then follow these guidelines.—
Amy Brightfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With its own helicopter pad on the top of the 38-story tower, the Rolls-Royce showroom and Houston's only Bugatti dealership on the ground floor, you will be immersed in luxury from head to toe.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Born in the Spanish Harlem neighborhood of New York to Puerto Rican parents, Eddie grew up immersed in the jazz world.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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My neighborhood is saturated with memories spanning my whole life.—
Sophie Brickman,
The Atlantic,
4 Aug. 2025
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Here’s the basic approach: – Mow the grass or cut the weeds very, very short. – Irrigate to saturate the soil at least 6 inches deep. – Cover the lawn or garden bed completely with 1- or 2-ml thick sheets of clear plastic.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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