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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
Prices have tumbled over the course of the past couple of weeks as investors feared Trump’s trade policy could sap demand for travel, shipping and transportation — all of which require fuel. David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025 Trump has no more elections to fight — assuming his suggestions of an unconstitutional third term come to nothing — but any steeper decline in his popularity could sap his political capital and eventually put the Republican Party in serious trouble in the 2026 midterms. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sap
Noun
  • Waterless dyeing can lower production costs by up to 45% by slashing water and energy bills, reducing waste treatment requirements, and accelerating processing time.
    Ken Katz, Sourcing Journal, 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 Trump administration has characterized that role as one for suckers, in which the United States restrained its hard power and allowed other countries to bleed its wealth.
    Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025
  • These stems, called suckers, are a different variety than the top growth and will have different flowers, as well as drawing energy and resources away from the main plant.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 12 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
  • Of course, staying on top of his health requires plenty of dedication.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
  • 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
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
  • When more officers got to the scene, while officers held Nichols' arms and hit him with a barrage of kicks, punches, baton strikes and pepper spray.
    Jack Armstrong, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Video of the beating, captured by a police pole camera, showed Nichols being held by his arms as officers punched, kicked and struck him with a baton, according to reports from the AP and The Commercial Appeal newspaper.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • The Celtics’ greatest strength and greatest flaw is their persistence.
    Jared Weiss, New York Times, 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 15 May. 2025.

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