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sap

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sap distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sap are cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, undermine, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," 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

In what contexts can cripple take the place of sap?

While the synonyms cripple and sap are close in meaning, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.

crippled by arthritis

When can debilitate be used instead of sap?

The words debilitate and sap are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When would disable be a good substitute for sap?

The words disable and sap can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

When might enfeeble be a better fit than sap?

While in some cases nearly identical to sap, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

Where would weaken be a reasonable alternative to sap?

In some situations, the words weaken and sap are roughly equivalent. However, 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

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
Noun
Aphids excrete the sap as honeydew, leaving leaves sticky and susceptible to sooty mold. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025 That sent the mouse gathering sap up a tree, which is a journey that involves climbing the trunk and finding places to rest as the mouse reaches the tree top. Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
The pandemic, a property market collapse, and now the trade war have sapped China’s consumer confidence. Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2025 Recent studies show what many daters already feel: swiping through endless profiles can sap your mental health. Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sap
Noun
  • In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Alo Moves, Alo Yoga’s holistic wellness platform, has announced the launch of a new series designed to support the gut-brain connection aiming to help users reset for better digestion, energy and mood.
    Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 5 May 2025
  • Combs’s full-bodied vocal is a natural for this type of commanding track, while Zimmerman cranks up the vocal energy to another level.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • The Vulcan system consists of a conventional robotic arm with a custom spatula-like appendage for poking into a shelf and a sucker for grabbing items to pull them out.
    Will Knight, Wired News, 7 May 2025
  • At a time when the world seems increasingly divided into winners and losers, exploiters and suckers, Henry Johnson speaks with sardonic eloquence to our current moment in American life.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Greer kicked him in the ribs, stomped on his head and picked up Snellings’ cane and hit the victim with it, Hoffman said.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2025
  • Some carried their work briefcases, some American flags, some walked with canes, and others were pushed in wheelchairs…304,000 of them had been wounded in Vietnam.
    Stan Godlewski, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • Mowing too little or too much can have adverse consequences for the health of the lawn and can also encourage unwanted plants to grow.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
  • Of course, staying on top of his health requires plenty of dedication.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Others may develop it after pregnancy, as the muscles and ligaments around the uterus can loosen or weaken.
    Brandi Jones, Health, 10 May 2025
  • This weakens their ability to tailor experiences and erodes marketing efficiency.
    Amit Jhawar, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The advantage of experience and postseason expertise Golden State enjoyed seems to be trending towards Houston’s vigor and endurance.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 1 May 2025
  • Some host plants are herb-sized and easy to fit into snug spaces, while others may be undesirably weedy in vigor.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Five officers, who are also Black, caught up with him and punched, kicked and hit him with a police baton while trying to handcuff him.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
  • Mills acknowledged that the officers were afraid and exhausted, but said some of the methods used on Nichols complied with police department policies, including using wrist locks and hitting with a baton.
    Adrian Sainz, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • The Celtics’ greatest strength and greatest flaw is their persistence.
    Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • In the first half of the 20th century, even as labor unions gained strength elsewhere, there was a fear of giving federal workers too much say over how the nation's laws were carried out.
    Andrea Hsu, NPR, 11 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sap. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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