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
Aly J Yale,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Little surprise that the pair explore the wider context of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup triumph, namely the military dictatorship that sapped national pride and heaped enormous pressure on a team — one who’d stunk up the tournament four years earlier — to restore it.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
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
The energy that normally accompanies a race has been sapped.
—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
That sapped momentum from AI stocks worldwide on Tuesday.
—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Because the jagged, shallow seabed near the fjord’s mouth acted like a speed bump that sapped the wave’s energy, people onboard the cruise ship came out of the event unscathed.
—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
10 May 2026
The currency has rallied after sliding 4% in March as the Iran war sapped global risk sentiment.
—
David Finnerty,
Bloomberg,
20 Apr. 2026
Jacobs stopped recording a few years ago as worsening health problems sapped his desire to go out and see concerts.
—
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Rising gas prices from the war in Iran have sapped potential investment money from American pocketbooks.
—
Aly J Yale,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Little surprise that the pair explore the wider context of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup triumph, namely the military dictatorship that sapped national pride and heaped enormous pressure on a team — one who’d stunk up the tournament four years earlier — to restore it.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
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
The energy that normally accompanies a race has been sapped.
—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
That sapped momentum from AI stocks worldwide on Tuesday.
—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Because the jagged, shallow seabed near the fjord’s mouth acted like a speed bump that sapped the wave’s energy, people onboard the cruise ship came out of the event unscathed.
—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
10 May 2026
The currency has rallied after sliding 4% in March as the Iran war sapped global risk sentiment.
—
David Finnerty,
Bloomberg,
20 Apr. 2026
Jacobs stopped recording a few years ago as worsening health problems sapped his desire to go out and see concerts.
—
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sapped
Adjective
-
Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
-
In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Verb
-
Yet finance, policy certainty and infrastructure weakened for the first time in more than a decade.
-
Internal fractures, economic decline and public frustration have weakened the movement and opened a new chapter of uncertainty.
Adjective
-
The gags are both belabored and feeble.
-
Jolted by a feeble office market, a growing number of developers are considering ways to convert their office properties to other uses, such as housing projects.
Verb
-
The company disputed the vulnerability's severity, while the government's position softened amid industry criticism and fears of Chinese competitors gaining an advantage.
-
Think sharp crops softened by length, or longer cuts styled with a deliberate edge.
Verb
-
In the finals, Israel faced an Australian team already exhausted after fending off South Korea, Japan and Rhodesia (itself in the Asian tournament after being banned in Africa over its white governing regime).
-
For years, people have been frustrated and exhausted by the seemingly endless amount of swiping and small talk that go nowhere on dating apps.
Verb
-
The first half of the year usually reveals where time, energy and resources are being wasted.
-
Solar and wind power can generate excess electricity during periods of strong production, but that energy is often wasted if it cannot be stored for later use.
Cite this Entry
“Sapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sapped. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
