sop

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 backhander [British], boodle, cumshaw, fix, bribeRelated Words baksheesh, kickback, payoff; slush fund; incentive, incitement, instigation, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulation, stimulus; boost, encouragement, goad, inducement; allurement, bait, enticement, lure, seduction, temptation, turn-on; flattery, persuasion; decoy, snare, trap

1 to wet thoroughly with liquid sopped the sponge with the detergent and began scrubbing the floor vigorously Synonyms drench, drown, impregnate, macerate, saturate, sodden, soak, souse, steepRelated Words waterlog, water-soak; marinate, seethe; presoak; dip, immerse, inundate, submerge, swamp; bathe, douse (also dowse), hydrate, swill, wash, water; infiltrate, penetrate, permeate; damp, dampen, humidify, moistenNear Antonyms dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, sear; drain, empty, void; dehumidifyAntonyms wring (out)

2 to make wet my book fell in the swimming pool and was thoroughly sopped before I could fish it out Synonyms bathe, bedraggle, douse (also dowse), drench, drown, soak, sodden, wet, souse, wash, water, waterlog, water-soak, wet downRelated Words asperse, bedew, damp, dampen, drizzle, humidify, hydrate, mist, moisten, moisturize, shower, sprinkle; deluge, flood, hose (down), inundate, overflow; submerge, swamp; splash; impregnate, saturate, steep; flush, irrigate, lave, rinse, slosh, sluice; dip, duck, dunk; rehydrate, rewash, rewetNear Antonyms dewater, evaporate, freeze-dry; drip-dry, wring; dehumidifyAntonyms dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, scorch, sear

3 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 douse (also dowse), duck, dunk, immerse, souse, dip, submerge, submerseRelated Words bathe, moisten, soak, steep, wet; drench, drown, flood; dive, plunge, thrust