sapped 1 of 2

sapped

2 of 2

verb

past tense of sap

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
Verb
In the last quarter-century, relentless drought intensified by climate change has sapped the river’s flow and left its reservoirs severely depleted. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Anyway, the only bummer was Toka completely blew out Savu, so a bit of the drama got sapped, which means the purple tribe was facing their first Tribal Council. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2026 The savage purge since June of high-momentum stocks – dominated by AI hardware and related industrials – has sapped the bullish aggression of traders, helping to reset tactical sentiment toward a more neutral level. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 The source of Stevie’s anger lay in the drug’s having sapped her ability to live and work with the zeal and ambition that had defined her life and career up until then. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026 The slump has sapped the power that has defined his offensive game, with no extra-base hits and just one RBI during that span. — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 After more than 26 years of drought and climate change sapped the river's supply, the nation's two largest reservoirs — Lake Powell and Lake Mead — are at record lows. — Alex Hager, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Hurricanes that pass over patches of cooler water, however, are sapped of their energy and diminish. — John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026 The deaths of her husband the previous year and her closest friend more recently had sapped her spirits. — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sapped
Adjective
  • Trump was implying Ukraine was in a weak negotiating position and did not have the military resources to fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
  • And some players are turning on the season as seen by them letting the Jaguars tear through weak tackle attempts to the tune of 183 rushing yards and three passing TDs by Trevor Lawrence.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The Times also found that the towers had no visible shear walls, and that the uniform orientation of their columns weakened these high-rises against seismic forces.
    — Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Once a symbol of superlative government competence, the nation’s weakened federal space agency has largely outsourced its extraterrestrial ambitions to the private sector.
    — Peter Jamison, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • As Claudia, Curtis is perfectly biting and obnoxious, willing to insert herself into her ex-husband’s life for sport, stomping on his feeble boundaries.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In 1937, Foyles started the Right Book Club, a rather feeble counterweight to Victor Gollancz’s Left Book Club.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • There’s little indication that Miller has softened on immigration whatsoever.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2026
  • But, despite preferring to load the dishwasher rather than attend the ceremony, his attitude appears to have slightly softened after the band's eventual induction this year.
    — Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • His crass, combative rhetoric, frequent public attacks and norm-breaking behavior have exhausted the American people.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The collateral damage could be to exhausted voters who simply wanted the direction of the country to change.
    — Christopher Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Sorry to have wasted everybody’s time, and congrats again to Gram Parsons and his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2026!
    — Mitch Myers, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The Jets blew a nine-point halftime lead and wasted a 33-point afternoon against a Raiders team that had lost four straight.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sapped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sapped. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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