Definition of sopnext
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 implication is that the Republican tax reform was intended as a sop to the rich and designed to favor only the president’s supporters. Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026 This was seen as a sop to the luxury sector of manufacturers like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Volkswagen’s Bentley and Lamborghini. Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the away end, on this putrid, sopping evening in N17, the bigger picture is steamrolled by the small. George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 When the sopping girl has joined them on the beach, one of the producers separates from the huddle of production personnel. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
  • Prosecutors said Santana was paid thousands in bribes for smuggling contraband into the facility between May 2024 and June 2025.
    Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But the judge also noted Krneta’s dual role in facilitating the corruption of Tobolski, both paying bribes and collecting extortion payments from other contractors on the then-mayor’s behalf.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This is all due to showers and thunderstorms that have soaked those areas over the last two weeks.
    Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • That becomes particularly dangerous in cities, where roads, parking lots and buildings prevent rain from soaking into the ground.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • For best results, water deeply at the base of the plant, allowing moisture to soak into the root zone rather than wetting the foliage, says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And yet, Lucas and Scott aren’t afraid of occasionally dipping into not just realistic problems, but heavier ones, too.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As the sun dips behind the canyon walls, the desert cools down rapidly, creating another window to head back out for a dusky hike.
    Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Oliver has been away from Buffalo's facility for periods this summer in the aftermath of his son, also named Ed, drowning in June at a residential pool in Houston.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • North American carrier upgrade cycles align perfectly with Apple's September calendar, channelling extensive marketing support and customer upgrades towards the new iPhone, effectively drowning out rival Android flagships.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • For instance, studies have found a single load of laundry can wash 700,000 tendrils of microplastics known as microfibers into sewers.
    Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Petrino may look for a relatively quick turnaround to wash the negativity away after winning a forgettable fight.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Like Wenders’ 2023 documentary Anselm, on German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, From Inside Out was shot in 3D to immerse viewers in the spaces that Zumthor creates.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
  • From the outset, the show immerses audiences in 1930s New York, and while set in a noir world, there’s a modern aspect to it too.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Bubble sheet masks are made up of thin pieces of fabric that are saturated with a solution, which bubbles up as the mask sits on the skin.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • OpenAI’s lookbook for their capsule collection is an apparent homage to tastemaking brands like Kith and Aimé Leon Dore, two labels that turned laidback knitwear and box cut T-shirts into trends that saturated menswear in the last few years.
    T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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