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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Alsenad did not benefit financially from the bribes, according to the plea agreement.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025 -
The official, who has been arrested, is also suspected of providing 100 million won ($71,800) in bribes to Kweon.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The rain that falls on them soaks into the surface and flows down the incline to dribble out along the lower edge, where it is captured and carefully measured for its chemical and biological content.—
Chris Impey,
The Conversation,
23 Sep. 2025
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In the clip shared to @sirbrucee, the large dog named Bruce towers over the tub, which is filled with water as his owner soaks inside.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Watering from above also wets the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases or powdery mildew on a mum's leaves.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those are the times when hotel occupancy dips and the hum of incoming visitors softens.—
Essence,
Essence,
26 Sep. 2025
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The Grand Hotel remains Mackinac Island’s most iconic landmark, a sprawling Victorian masterpiece crowned by the world’s longest porch—where rocking chairs invite you to linger over cocktails as the sun dips into the Straits.—
Christine Chitnis,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The deal marks the latest major investment by AT&T to accelerate its fiber and 5G network build-out as the wireless market saturates and internet usage surges.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Aug. 2025
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For brands, the trend has become an opportunity to market products that speak to the Performative Male; which, in turn, only saturates the dating pool with more artifice that is a turn-off for women.—
Brett F. Braley-Palko,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Boiled down in a cauldron using traditional methods, the sulfate-free formula bubbles up into a lovely lather that washes hands without stripping them (the glycerin, as well as coconut, olive, and sweet almond oils, are to thank) and fills the room with its sophisticated, Provençal scents.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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After polishing, Stewart washes each piece with dish soap, rinses with lukewarm water, and dries immediately to prevent watermarks.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If someone truly disrupts — won’t stop, drowns out others — escort them out and move on.—
Eric Preven,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
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Otherwise, the urgent always drowns out the important.—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In shocking footage posted on Facebook, large waves are seen breaking through the glass doors of the lobby as water rushes in and quickly floods the hotel.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
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Bright sunlight floods the sensors with background noise, surface reflections distort the signal, and long-distance measurements require higher stability than short-range indoor use.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Sops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sops. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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