1
as in suckers
one who is easily deceived or cheated
some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in canes
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment
the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in weakens
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 saps
Divya Prasad, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Aug. 2021
John Tamny, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Cast and crew are emotionally invested in the urgency of the material, but the bland competency of the whole affair saps it of power.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025
But the county’s fire union contends the switch saps Fire Rescue funds from long-term plans to add fire trucks, stations and crews in areas of the county needing better coverage to lower response times.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2025
Sweetgreen’s stumbles have reinforced doubts about whether premium salad chains can thrive in today’s value-conscious dining environment, especially as hybrid work saps the desk-lunch crowd and consumers search for more affordable options.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
The two types—NMOS and PMOS—must maintain a certain distance to limit capacitance that saps the devices’ performance and power consumption.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 May 2023
Noun
As transistors continue to be made tinier, the interconnects that supply them with current must be packed ever closer and be made ever finer, which increases resistance and saps power.
—Divya Prasad, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Aug. 2021
Verb
Tariffs are taxes on production, government spending is a tax on progress, deportation saps workforce productivity, and the weak dollar (see the gold price) is a tax on investment.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Cast and crew are emotionally invested in the urgency of the material, but the bland competency of the whole affair saps it of power.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025
But the county’s fire union contends the switch saps Fire Rescue funds from long-term plans to add fire trucks, stations and crews in areas of the county needing better coverage to lower response times.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2025
Sweetgreen’s stumbles have reinforced doubts about whether premium salad chains can thrive in today’s value-conscious dining environment, especially as hybrid work saps the desk-lunch crowd and consumers search for more affordable options.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
The two types—NMOS and PMOS—must maintain a certain distance to limit capacitance that saps the devices’ performance and power consumption.
—IEEE Spectrum, 25 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saps
Noun
-
Train yourself to look for growth that should be removed, such as tomato suckers and low-growing tomato branches, excess dahlia foliage, and tangled thyme.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The little suckers will ingest this and die.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Cover the pot and the bottom few inches of the rose canes with soil, then add a layer of mulch for insulation.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Multiple video cameras captured the dynamic choreo on giant screens behind the stage as McRae and her entourage danced with canes, strutted down a catwalk, seductively gyrated on moving platforms, and even pole-danced.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Yuhas said rubbing could trigger keratoconus, an eye condition that weakens the cornea.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
30 Sep. 2025
-
And the thymus gland, the producer of white blood cells, shrinks and weakens over time.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The plaintiffs later accused the department of violating the order by hitting journalists with batons and arresting them during an August protest.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Reuters reported that police used water cannons, batons, rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That initial white chocolate softens into something creamier and woodier as the hours pass.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and softens the cervix to prepare the body for expulsion.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Families are struggling with rising costs while City Hall wastes millions.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
-
On one end, the industry uses millions of tons of pollutive fibers for fashion; the other wastes millions of tons of agri-residue.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Saps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saps. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share