1
as in suckers
one who is easily deceived or cheated
some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of saps
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
That functional mismatch saps away at the comedy of a film clearly made to be enjoyed by a global audience.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
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
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
Certain bark layers, saps, and other plant matter can actually photoluminesce.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
That functional mismatch saps away at the comedy of a film clearly made to be enjoyed by a global audience.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
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
-
The body of each tentacle is crafted out of resin, and the individual suckers are then painted and polished before being applied by hand.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Remove any shoots and suckers that appear on the trunk or near the roots, and get rid of crossing or dead branches.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This makes room for the growth of new canes, which are more productive.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
The rising intolerance that results erodes social cohesion, undermines support for democratic norms and weakens trust in institutions.—
Andrew Rojecki,
The Conversation,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Blocking them causes disruption to the cells’ energy-generating mitochondria and leads to oxidative stress, which further weakens cancer.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Illinois State Police troopers rushed in, batons in hand, and held back the crowd.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
13 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
The hummingbirds are one of the few subjects that, briefly, softens him.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Chamomile softens the flame, vanilla sweetens the smoke, and the result is all loving, never strange… a total trance.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That clogs the judicial system, wastes limited resources, and delays justice for those with legitimate grievances.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Families are struggling with rising costs while City Hall wastes millions.—
Miami Herald Staff,
Miami Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Saps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saps. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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