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
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision last month to shut down Germany's oldest nuclear reactors and temporarily scrub life extensions for the rest was widely seen as a sop to voters in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 Apr. 2011
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025
Carpenter tosses a green bag of sopping compost into a bin, then bends over to pick up a black plastic bag filled with trash.
—Alana Semuels/waitsfield, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Noun
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
Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision last month to shut down Germany's oldest nuclear reactors and temporarily scrub life extensions for the rest was widely seen as a sop to voters in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 Apr. 2011
Verb
Solange, seen in sopping wet tresses this week, creative directed a birthday shoot for Ari Lennox.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 31 Mar. 2025
Carpenter tosses a green bag of sopping compost into a bin, then bends over to pick up a black plastic bag filled with trash.
—Alana Semuels/waitsfield, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
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For instance, Sugihara’s self-discovery occurs after his family pays a bribe to switch their citizenship from North Koreans to South Koreans—just so that his parents can visit Hawai‘i.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
11 July 2025
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By his own admission, the Mexican lawman known as El Diablo — The Devil — supervised a scourge of torture, murder, kidnappings, land grabs and other abuses while amassing a fortune in cartel bribes that bankrolled purchases of homes, cattle and a fleet of buses.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Valenzuela adds that watering in the morning ensures there's sufficient time for the water to soak deep into the soil before the heat of the day.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
10 July 2025
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The colorful upper is breathable and moisture-wicking to keep your feet from getting sweaty or soaked by rain.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Traditional evaporators don’t work well in wet weather, but this new material stands up much better to wetting and drying, just like the rainforest birds that inspired it.—
Ian Rose,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 June 2025
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Use a garden hose or power washer to thoroughly wet the rug.—
Karen Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Seabreeze makes hot chocolate and dipped cones for An’s Gelato, the parent company of several award winning gelaterias including An’s Hatmakers.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 July 2025
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Of some concern to BBC bosses will be the corporation’s reach with young people, which dipped from 70% to 67% in 2024-25 – below its target.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Each year, stories of people acting heroically to rescue others from the water turn tragic when the rescuers end up caught in the rip currents and drown.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
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Truckee police were searching Friday for a possible drowning victim in Donner Lake, said department officials.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Often problems arise from short-term pollution, which can happen during heavy rainfall that washes waste from sewage plants into the water.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
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The worker then pointed across the lot to Norman — who was washing someone’s car, tending to his summer job, minding his business.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Six Senses Rome not only allows travelers to immerse in the city’s culture and history but also provides options for relaxation.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Travelers come from across the globe to hike the trails, gaze in awe at the falls and granite rockfaces, and immerse themselves in the enchantment of the park.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
Verb
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There have been major changes to feed zones this year, with rules introduced by the UCI, cycling’s world governing body, to stop major teams from saturating the route with support, putting smaller squads at a disadvantage.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
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But, these days, as influencers, artificial intelligence, and horrifying headlines saturate the internet, what’s the point of posting?—
Daniel A. Gross,
New Yorker,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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