sop 1 of 2

as in bribe
something given or promised in order to improperly influence a person's conduct or decision as a sop to the teachers' union for supporting his reelection campaign, the mayor promised to push for the abolition of the residency requirement

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sop

2 of 2

verb

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 sop
Noun
The second act begins to drag with slapdash vaudeville showcases that seem like sops to the performers. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025 This was done as a sop to progressive activists in the name of fighting climate change. Editorial, Boston Herald, 2 Feb. 2025
Verb
An ideal combination of a mop-and-bucket and a Swiffer-style wet-or-dry mop, a wet/dry vacuum utilizes the suction and rotation power of a vacuum with just enough moisture to keep things from getting sopping wet. Sarah Madaus, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024 Plants do not want to stay sopping wet, so always stick your finger in the soil and check the moisture level before giving your plant a drink. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
  • The contractor executive, Jessie Bledsoe, agreed to pay the bribe, prosecutors said.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
  • Other officers were charged with fraud, accepting bribes, possessing assault weapons and various other crimes.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • Soiled suits can be soaked for half an hour first if needed.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
  • The Field House has lofted queen-size beds plus a separate bedroom; and the Bluebird Cottage comes with a fireside soaking tub and heated stone floors.
    Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • Once seedlings are visible, water from below and, throughout the growth of your plants, never wet the foliage to minimize mildew development.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 15 May 2025
  • My clothes were wet with sweat on the inside and wet on the outside from a mixture of rain, snow and sleet, and some of the mist was freezing on the trees.
    Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Jim has said mortgage rates need to dip below 6.5% to stimulate the housing market.
    Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 17 May 2025
  • In many respects, the film already feels out of date, mostly covering Trump’s crimes during his first term as well as the January 6 Capitol insurrection rather than dipping into the more flagrant fascism of his past few months back in office.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • Her 14-year-old brother drowned, according to authorities, and her father is in a coma.
    Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025
  • Except the music playing her off the stage drowns out his name!
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • Afterward, wash the cleanser off with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.4 Some people with sensitive skin find that cleansing with water in the morning is sufficient, and over-cleansing with products can irritate their skin.
    Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025
  • Before washing, inspect the area for any cracks or damage and repair them as needed.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • To his credit, Shepard took the entire situation on that January Armchair Expert episode in stride, even showing off his blue elephant-print boxers to the cameras to properly immerse the audience in the experience.
    Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 May 2025
  • The Panorama, a temporary exhibition in place while the Pergamon Museum, one of the six buildings on the island, undergoes renovation, immerses visitors in an enormous artwork that depicts the ancient city of Pergamon in 129 A.D.
    Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Research the local market to see if there’s room for growth or if the market is already saturated.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
  • But later that year, Republicans saturated campaigns with ads about gender, including attacks on Biden administration policies.
    Sam Gringlas, NPR, 10 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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