as in draining
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in weakening
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 sapping
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Fueling the surges are power-sapping data hubs — one is planned for 160 acres in Grayslake — and the growth of artificial intelligence.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, the austerity and elegance of the downstairs dining room acts as a dampener, hushing the salad’s brashness and sapping much of the fun.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
To make matters worse, a gastrointestinal issue was sapping my strength.
—Tom Ward, Outside, 17 Nov. 2025
With some notable exceptions, bringing in an outsider can send the morale-sapping message that the board has lost confidence in its other executives, Sonnenfeld warned.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Food shortages would mean the disappearance of luxuries and the rationing of staples, sapping public morale.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
That’s so precious to me right now, and the idea of producing a lot of stuff — and sapping all of that free time — is not appealing.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
The film charts Stone’s tragic descent into severe drug addiction, sapping the creativity that had astonished the world.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Two epics inside four days — a 102nd-minute 4-3 comeback win over Leeds United, then a 7-6 FA Cup third-round penalty-shootout triumph over Bournemouth — only adds to a marathon campaign of matches which, individually, have felt like energy-sapping sprints.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Fueling the surges are power-sapping data hubs — one is planned for 160 acres in Grayslake — and the growth of artificial intelligence.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Unfortunately, the austerity and elegance of the downstairs dining room acts as a dampener, hushing the salad’s brashness and sapping much of the fun.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
To make matters worse, a gastrointestinal issue was sapping my strength.
—Tom Ward, Outside, 17 Nov. 2025
With some notable exceptions, bringing in an outsider can send the morale-sapping message that the board has lost confidence in its other executives, Sonnenfeld warned.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Food shortages would mean the disappearance of luxuries and the rationing of staples, sapping public morale.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
That’s so precious to me right now, and the idea of producing a lot of stuff — and sapping all of that free time — is not appealing.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
The film charts Stone’s tragic descent into severe drug addiction, sapping the creativity that had astonished the world.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sapping
Adjective
-
Long periods of socializing, like a weeklong conference, can feel far more draining than shorter events.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
-
By aligning strategic work with those rhythms, productivity can feel more natural and less draining.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The scientists set out to investigate a debilitating and lethal parasite that’s been plaguing monarchs.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Or, the first generation simply declined from senescence and the debilitating effects of power long exercised without check.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Each of the eight luxurious scents is packed with softening coconut oil and shea butter.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Fischer especially recommends making sound-softening updates in rooms with higher ceilings, open layouts, and hardwood flooring, all of which can amplify echo and reverb.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Don’t bother wasting your money—using it more than once a day won’t yield ‘better’ or faster results.—
Ali Pantony,
Glamour,
9 Jan. 2026
-
People become paralyzed by choice and the risk of wasting time on something bad.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sapping. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
