as in weak
lacking bodily strength
I was completely sapped after the first day of hauling logs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 sapped
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
This sapped the original populist movement of its moral clarity and thwarted its capacity to fight on behalf of working people.
—Gunther Peck / Made By History, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Had lawmakers succeeded in impeaching Yoon, his powers would have been sapped.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 7 Dec. 2024
Its backers in Moscow, Tehran and Beirut were unable or unwilling to respond, perhaps because their attention and resources having been sapped by wars in Ukraine, Lebanon, Gaza and elsewhere.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 9 Dec. 2024
The war in Ukraine sapped Russia’s strength and diminished its ability to maintain its defense of the Assad regime just as surely as the successful Russian defense of Stalingrad taxed Germany’s military might, contributing to its loss of North Africa in 1943.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Cancer June 21 – July 22 Your motivation might have been sapped by the mundane.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024
Strep throat had sapped some of Verlander’s velocity to start his senior season at Goochland High, scaring away scouts and perhaps some of the more prestigious college programs.
—Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
Conversely, many of the bodies on display appear sapped of erotic charge by virtue of their hanging.
—Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
That surely sapped some of the drama from the endgame, which is a shame.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
This sapped the original populist movement of its moral clarity and thwarted its capacity to fight on behalf of working people.
—Gunther Peck / Made By History, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Had lawmakers succeeded in impeaching Yoon, his powers would have been sapped.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 7 Dec. 2024
Its backers in Moscow, Tehran and Beirut were unable or unwilling to respond, perhaps because their attention and resources having been sapped by wars in Ukraine, Lebanon, Gaza and elsewhere.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 9 Dec. 2024
The war in Ukraine sapped Russia’s strength and diminished its ability to maintain its defense of the Assad regime just as surely as the successful Russian defense of Stalingrad taxed Germany’s military might, contributing to its loss of North Africa in 1943.
—Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Cancer June 21 – July 22 Your motivation might have been sapped by the mundane.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024
Strep throat had sapped some of Verlander’s velocity to start his senior season at Goochland High, scaring away scouts and perhaps some of the more prestigious college programs.
—Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
Conversely, many of the bodies on display appear sapped of erotic charge by virtue of their hanging.
—Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sapped
Adjective
-
Dell Technologies’ balance sheet appears relatively weak.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead called the case weak and a deterrent to tech investment in a blog post on Sunday.—
Jody Godoy,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But the militants, while greatly weakened, have repeatedly regrouped, often after Israeli forces withdraw from areas.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Those at high-risk for listeria infection are newborns, those who are pregnant, have weakened immune systems, and those aged 65 or older.—
Mike Snider,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Right-hander Michael King toyed with Colorado’s feeble offense and pitched his first complete-game shutout.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2025
-
One feeble shift by the Freddy Gaudreau line led to the Flames countering and Sharangovich scoring on a deflection off a harmless-looking shot by Martin Pospisil.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
While the emphasis on ESG has softened, the focus on sustainable, scalable growth remains a guiding principle.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
-
McDermott has softened on those decisions recently.—
Joe Buscaglia,
The Athletic,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Fourteen years of war have left the country desolate, and its people exhausted; millions have been displaced or were forced to become refugees.—
Raghed Waked & Justin Salhani,
The Dial,
25 Mar. 2025
-
He was hurt, he was exhausted and knew very well the odds of his Pittsburgh Penguins qualifying for the postseason were minimal at best.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sapped. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share