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
Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
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
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
Internal resistance from the membrane’s structure saps additional efficiency.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
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
-
Remove any canes that are crossing or rubbing against each other, as well as any suckers that have formed.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The same applies to suckers that a young tree may develop; they can be removed at any time.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To help your plants establish, make sure to get potted raspberries in the ground at least 4 to 6 weeks before frost is expected, or choose bare root canes, which are dormant and can be planted even later in the season, as long as the ground isn't frozen.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Avoid long or sharp swords, sticks or canes to prevent injury if a child trips and falls.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lee was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age 2, a degenerative disease that gradually weakens muscles.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Unlike some of the burger chain’s peers, Cramer said McDonald’s has immense scale and strength and is making an effort to lower prices as consumer spending weakens.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Dozens of agents swarmed the area along with a military vehicle, Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, told USA TODAY, saying agents used batons and mace on demonstrators.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Today his agents used batons and pepper spray on street vendors and bystanders on Canal Street.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gently simmer until the garlic softens, about 20 minutes.—
Malaka Gharib,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The fabric is washing machine safe and softens with age.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Proposition 50 mocks California voters and wastes hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in the process.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
21 Oct. 2025
-
That clogs the judicial system, wastes limited resources, and delays justice for those with legitimate grievances.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Saps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saps. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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