1
as in energy
active strength of body or mind
a child full of sap and vivacity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sucker
one who is easily deceived or cheated
some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in health
the condition of being sound in body
I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sap
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
24 May 2026
This removes the sap from the outer petals, convincing the bud to open quickly.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
With the World Cup kickoff just over a week away, climate scientists are warning that heat could be an invisible opponent, slowing play at open-air venues like Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), sapping players’ legs and testing fans in sweltering conditions.
—
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sap
Noun
This slows growth, destroys social trust, increases judgment and moralism, and saps societal happiness.
—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
24 May 2026
This removes the sap from the outer petals, convincing the bud to open quickly.
—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Verb
But years of water use that outpaced the Colorado River’s shrinking flows have, over the past two decades, sapped the reservoir’s water stores and created an existential crisis for water managers across the basin, home to 40 million people.
—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
With the World Cup kickoff just over a week away, climate scientists are warning that heat could be an invisible opponent, slowing play at open-air venues like Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), sapping players’ legs and testing fans in sweltering conditions.
—
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sap
Noun
-
Name the worry out loud, then choose a small boundary that protects your energy, such as turning off notifications during a demanding task.
-
The episode could add further political momentum behind decarbonization, climate adaptation, electrification, and energy-efficiency investment.
Noun
-
But Kiyoko is a sucker for a happy ending, and things tie up neater than the rest of the film might otherwise suggest.
-
Removing the suckers encourages better air circulation and focuses the plant’s energy on producing fruit, says Singh.
Noun
-
Jung, who is going into his senior year of high school, said SmartBlink can detect pedestrians using wheelchairs, crutches or canes, too.
-
An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.
Noun
-
Top-selling Prime Day deals There are smartwatches, and then there are Apple Watches, which take fitness and health tracking to a whole new level.
-
However, after the Moon changes signs today, something unexpected might affect your job, your health or even your pet.
Verb
-
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
-
All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Noun
-
The crowd shook her car with such vigor that the 23-year-old Westminster resident couldn’t turn up the music like people shouted at her to do.
-
Gorlin-Crenshaw notes that cool temperatures, such as those below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, will slow plant development and reduce plant vigor.
Noun
-
Alite provided loans at exorbitant rates before threatening violence to collect on them, authorities said, citing the discovery in his home of metal knuckles, an expandable baton, six baseball bats and about two dozen knives, including switchblades.
-
Officers can use voice commands, and if those don’t work options include pepper spray, a baton, a TASER or fire extinguisher, though some are more difficult to use on a fast-moving animal, the directive says.
Noun
-
The study was small, and follow-up research has not yet confirmed those results with the same strength.
-
Draw upon your well of strength.
Cite this Entry
“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sap. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
