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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of sop
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
The reinstatement was an obvious sop to the gambling industry, an MLB partner, and possibly also to President Donald Trump, who lobbied for Rose’s future election into the Hall of Fame.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
The other side of the sopping wet coin is how to counter these noises.
—New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Noun
As a sop to preservationists, the university salvaged the 1848 façade and tower, keeping them freestanding and pointless, like a souvenir on a shelf.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
The reinstatement was an obvious sop to the gambling industry, an MLB partner, and possibly also to President Donald Trump, who lobbied for Rose’s future election into the Hall of Fame.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Verb
Marcus was drying off while still in the pool, leaving his towel sopping wet.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
The other side of the sopping wet coin is how to counter these noises.
—New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
-
Players were offered $10,000 to $30,000 bribes per game, and Smith paid players after successful bets, according to court documents.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The letter also refuted accusations of a bribe, which were based on a text message a Quest representative had sent Davis.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Each room has a stand-alone soaking tub and steam shower.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Wash it under running water or soak it in a bowl of water, then shake off the broccoli and dry it very well.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Space Leylands 8 to 10 feet apart to control these problems and avoid wetting the foliage.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Do not over-wet the wood, which can cause warping and damage to the finish.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Attendees milled around a makeshift sauna village, assembled outside Seattle's Nordic Museum, sampling different styles of sauna, and occasionally dipping in an ice cold tub or shower.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Shares of Oracle have dipped 21% this year, swept up in a broader sell-off targeting the technology industry upon fears of artificial intelligence disruption.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
George Seda, the police boss in Nairobi, said Saturday that six people drowned and two others were electrocuted, warning that the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
When Christina drowns herself for a second time, Baron Frankenstein is confronted by the unpredictability of stitching together dead flesh—his female creation is capable of reckoning with her past suffering.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to wash cycles and tending to laundry as soon as the buzzer rings, there are a few other tips to decrease the wrinkles in your wash.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Let the item sit for about 20 minutes so the fat in the coconut oil has time to break down the stain, then wash the item as normal.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once immersed in clinical practice, her attention centered on cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics, where precision meets emotion and subtle changes can influence confidence and self-perception.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
These culinary walking tours, which mostly run around 2½ hours, are an amazing way to immerse yourself into the storied, ever-changing and diverse food scene in Las Vegas.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, the filter absorbs only oil, without becoming saturated with water.—
Ben Coxworth
March 10,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The colors are saturated, and the deep blacks and bright whites make for gorgeous contrast.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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