as in weak
lacking bodily strength
I was completely sapped after the first day of hauling logs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in weakened
to diminish the physical strength of
weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of sapped
Andee Tagle, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
Yet that was when all its momentum was sapped in an instant, as Salem’s senior defensive stopper, Mesa, stole an inbounds pass to regain possession for the Witches – and prevent Hanover from attempting a shot that could have tied or won the game.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
At this point, the past few debilitating weeks have sapped the energy of the most chatty members.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The Aggies like to play a small lineup since some early-season injuries sapped the team of some frontcourt depth.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
And in the last quarter-century, relentless drought intensified by climate change has sapped the river’s flow and left its giant reservoirs severely depleted.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Her happiness became tethered to results that never came and social media pressure that sapped her self-worth.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
India also battled through nagging injuries that sapped his effectiveness.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
However, the effort Betts poured into the transition (and an early-season virus that sapped his strength) seemed to adversely impact his offense.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
De-stress on the daily Whether we're being sapped by parenting decisions, job hunting, health troubles or world weariness, many of us could use a charge to our internal battery, says clinical psychologist Enmanuel Mercedes, who counsels many (often exhausted) parents.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
Yet that was when all its momentum was sapped in an instant, as Salem’s senior defensive stopper, Mesa, stole an inbounds pass to regain possession for the Witches – and prevent Hanover from attempting a shot that could have tied or won the game.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
At this point, the past few debilitating weeks have sapped the energy of the most chatty members.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The Aggies like to play a small lineup since some early-season injuries sapped the team of some frontcourt depth.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
And in the last quarter-century, relentless drought intensified by climate change has sapped the river’s flow and left its giant reservoirs severely depleted.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Her happiness became tethered to results that never came and social media pressure that sapped her self-worth.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
India also battled through nagging injuries that sapped his effectiveness.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
However, the effort Betts poured into the transition (and an early-season virus that sapped his strength) seemed to adversely impact his offense.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sapped
Adjective
-
An atmospheric river should track across California, even into southern California, by Tuesday, March 31, but is currently forecast to remain too weak to cause flooding issues, the WPC said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 14-month war that ended in November 2024, severely weakened the group, with many of its political and military commanders killed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
If Democrats attach every policy wish list to the affordability banner, the message will dissolve into the same blur of priorities that has weakened the party before.—
Richard Yanowitch,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Congress has for the most part registered only feeble and ineffective opposition to such executive action.—
Sarah Burns,
The Conversation,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Scratches above the dead body reach upward, marks that read as feeble attempts to cling to some semblance of life.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bake until eggplant has softened and started turning brown on the edges, about 10-15 minutes.—
Judy Bart Kancigor,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
That federal tax relief also has softened state tax revenues.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Residents of Tehran, the Iranian capital, say they are exhausted by the bombs that have battered their city on a daily basis and terrified of the security checkpoints that have popped up looking for spies.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The inside-out tandem of point guard Kiki Rice and 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts — two of six UCLA seniors who played in the Final Four last season — eventually wore down a Minnesota defense that exhausted its hustle capital in the first half.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last June, my family and I wasted nine miserable hours there as our flight was boarded and then delayed and then deboarded and then canceled.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
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In this case, your sweat is wasted and actually worsens the situation by failing to cool your body and contributing to dehydration.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sapped. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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