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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to soak
to wet thoroughly with liquid
sopped the sponge with the detergent and began scrubbing the floor vigorously
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wet
to make wet
my book fell in the swimming pool and was thoroughly sopped before I could fish it out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to dip
to sink or push (something) briefly into or as if into a liquid
hesitant to sop his bread in gravy, no matter how delicious, at such a formal banquet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sop
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Strain the sauce and drizzle some of it over the shredded pork (the pork should be lightly coated but not sopping wet).
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Noun
In a clip posted by Russia watcher Julia Davis, the guests suggested that Putin's agreement for a 30-day cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure was just a sop to Trump and showed no real intention by the Russian president to end hostilities.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
All of the moisture cloaked over South Florida still has to fall and there won’t be enough Saharan dust to sop it up like a paper towel.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Strain the sauce and drizzle some of it over the shredded pork (the pork should be lightly coated but not sopping wet).
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
-
Tom Homan did not take a bribe.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The gift drew criticism from Democrats and others who said the jet looked like a bribe to Trump.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Larger suites come with expansive bathrooms featuring standalone tubs (stocked with plenty of fragrant lotions and potions for soaking, all from the in-house brand The Erose) as well as your very own steam room, with a window that glimpses across the rooftops of Venice.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
13 Oct. 2025
-
If your napkin is saturated in grease, soaking it in a diluted vinegar mixture will help remove the greasy feel and smell while also softening the fibers.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To help keep leaves, whole or chopped, in place during high winds or flooding rains, wet them down with a hose.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
But the comedy is absolutely something that wets my beak, I'm drawn to it.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the sections that dip below provide structural continuity.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Once the Sun dips below the horizon, which is the case in all the hours between dusk and dawn, no solar power is generated at all.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As commissioner Cathy Engelbert took the microphone to congratulate the Las Vegas Aces and crown them the WNBA champions, fans in Phoenix drowned out her message with relentless booing.—
Shannon Ryan,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
His pre-teen son in tow, Luis joins up with a crusty group of dancers who are heading to a secret party in the heart of the desert, where the beats will be loud enough to drown out the sounds of the apocalyptic war that’s brewing around them.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
About two dozen people gathered at the town council meeting on October 16 to voice concern and distress about drinking, bathing in or washing their clothes in the yellow, brown water as the public comment period stretched over an hour.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
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An employee reportedly washed and dried a container but did not sanitize it.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The first campaign sees Doherty exploring and immersing himself within Jamaica’s vibrant culture alongside former Miss Universe Jamaica, Miqueal-Symone Williams.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The rangy star has previously immersed himself in performances that require both physical transformation and pitching outside of his comfort zone (see his extraordinary work as abolitionist John Brown in the limited series The Good Lord Bird).—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker has asked Tarrant County faith leaders to come to City Council meetings and saturate them in prayer.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Oct. 2025
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For hardened drops, saturate a cotton ball and place it on the drop for several minutes before wiping away.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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