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
Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Usually, fitting smaller wheels to an EV increases range because the rotation of each wheel causes a lot of drag that saps range, and smaller, narrower wheels disturb less air.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
But in the opinions of the two lead detectives on the case, to comment on every single one, to give credence publicly to even the most dubious messages, as Captain Donahoe was doing, only made the department look like a bunch of saps.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Every meeting between bare skin and river air saps your resolve, but those that resist the comfort of a warm den and a big screen television packed with sporting events are rewarded with some of the year's best fishing.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
The end of a new president’s first year is supposed to be a pivot point, when midterm elections come into focus and party leaders game out what can still be accomplished before campaigning saps Washington’s will to do anything at all.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 16 Dec. 2025
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
Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
But hamate surgery often saps a hitter of power, something Lindor, Carroll and Holliday were expected to supply in 2026.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
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, 16 Dec. 2025
Their style saps all the kitsch from beachy design and leaves just the parts that feel traveled, artisanal, and sophisticated.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
Noun
This slows growth, destroys social trust, increases judgment and moralism, and saps societal happiness.
—Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Usually, fitting smaller wheels to an EV increases range because the rotation of each wheel causes a lot of drag that saps range, and smaller, narrower wheels disturb less air.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
But in the opinions of the two lead detectives on the case, to comment on every single one, to give credence publicly to even the most dubious messages, as Captain Donahoe was doing, only made the department look like a bunch of saps.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Every meeting between bare skin and river air saps your resolve, but those that resist the comfort of a warm den and a big screen television packed with sporting events are rewarded with some of the year's best fishing.
—Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
The end of a new president’s first year is supposed to be a pivot point, when midterm elections come into focus and party leaders game out what can still be accomplished before campaigning saps Washington’s will to do anything at all.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 16 Dec. 2025
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
But the plot also retains a serial quality that saps momentum and betrays its TV roots.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
But hamate surgery often saps a hitter of power, something Lindor, Carroll and Holliday were expected to supply in 2026.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
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, 16 Dec. 2025
Their style saps all the kitsch from beachy design and leaves just the parts that feel traveled, artisanal, and sophisticated.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saps
Noun
-
The most minimal type of pruning, selective pruning refers to removing dead, diseased, or broken branches and suckers coming up from the roots to improve the structure of the plant.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
-
Details such as the relatively few suckers on its arms, its smooth skin, beak features and the coloring around its organs and parts of the mantle indicated a new species, now called Microeledone galapagensis.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
The edible fruit can be used to make jelly, but watch for thorns on the shrub’s canes.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
27 May 2026
-
More to Explore Many of the human props—canes, top hats, desks—used in primate taxidermy became unfashionable in the first half of the nineteenth century, but there were still throwbacks.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Subtract what weakens the system.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Teams evolve at different speeds, innovation concentrates among a small subset of employees, and trust across the organization weakens.—
Matt Rosenbaum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Ahead of the endorsement vote, Klobuchar supporters holding batons with flashing green lights dominated the convention floor.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
Some used their batons to beat and push back protesters as the officers attempted to clear the roadway for vehicles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Due to its semi-transparency, the facade invites the shifting sky and the green hues of the surrounding forest canopy into the interior, creating an environment that softens the line between inside and out.—
Bridget Borgobello
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
-
Back in April, Bieber debuted a vanilla French glaze manicure thats softens the sharp contrast of a typical French mani.—
Charley Ross,
Glamour,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Justin Stasiw’s soundscape wastes no time throwing the audience into Mumbai, where vehicles, whistles and rickshaws harshly yet thrillingly enter the ears.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Petras wastes no time arguing this case for herself.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Saps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saps. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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