as in bribes
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 soaks
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 wets
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 dips
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sops
Noun
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By then the city had already paid $11 million in settlements and $20 million to outside law firms over nine years to defend cases involving Watts, who led a crew of tactical officers accused of framing innocent people who wouldn’t pay bribes.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026 -
Federal prosecutors in South Florida later charged him with conspiracy to launder money and pay bribes to Venezuelan officials.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bavel’s Hummus Masabacha Bavel chef-owner Ori Menashe soaks his garbanzo beans overnight then cooks them until tender.—
Restaurant Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
For a floral display to thrive, gentle rain that soaks directly into the soil is crucial.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even a simple soaker hose is better than a sprinkler system that wets the foliage, which can make plants prone to blights and mildews.—
Marie Iannotti,
The Spruce,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Sweat that can’t escape wets a jacket’s layer of insulation and accelerates heat loss.—
Longji Cui,
The Conversation,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This month, water temps were in the mid-to-upper 60s, at a time when the thermometer typically dips to the 50s.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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If the stock dips below the short put strike, one will be compelled to buy IVZ at $22.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Water pools in your eyes as serotonin saturates your nervous system.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
25 Feb. 2026
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Here, an easy sauce of olive oil, lemon juice, fresh rosemary, capers, and garlic saturates whole small red potatoes and crispy chicken thighs and legs in flavor.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After 81 nearly drowns during an underwater drill, the regiment leaders (played by Dennis Quaid and Esai Morales) express concern that his PTSD from losing his brother might put him at risk or affect the team.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 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
-
Splashdown sends boats careening into a wall of water that drenches riders and onlookers alike, welcome relief in triple-digit heat.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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Or, systemic insecticide treatments with dinotefuran or imidacloprid can be used as trunk sprays, trunk injections or soil drenches depending on the label.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rain washes hazardous chemicals out of the atmosphere in a relatively short period of time, experts said, but people exposed to black rain should take precautions to avoid health risks, both short-term and long-term.—
Tammy Webber,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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And believe me, a person who receives warmth, love, and care from us—who washes and styles their hair—is someone who walks back into the world feeling confident, inspired, and ready to spread kindness further.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Sops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sops. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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