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
-
Prosecutors have accused Thao and her romantic partner Andre Jones of accepting political bribes from father-and-son businessmen David and Andy Duong, who hold Oakland’s recycling contract and had sought to win taxpayer dollars for a local housing venture.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026 -
After an investigation that lasted months, fuelled by eight whistle-blowers on his own staff, the legislators concluded that Paxton had taken bribes from a real-estate developer, improperly fired aides who reported his conduct, and obstructed justice.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
2 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
-
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
-
The potential for severe weather increases as the jet stream dips farther south, delivering more cold fronts that make clashes between warm and cold air more common.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
-
No buybacks, cash hoard dips slightly Buffett again refrained from buying back Berkshire shares despite ending Q4 along the flatline.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Water pools in your eyes as serotonin saturates your nervous system.—
Maya Silver,
Outside,
25 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
The Astronaut moves fast, driven by passion and curiosity that drowns out fear.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Low and invisible ambient light under stormy skies typically drowns out the light that coronae emit in the visible spectrum our eyes can see, so their camera and periscope system made that lower light more visible.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The indulgence becomes not only possible but mandatory with Lollia’s Kiss Me Again Bubble Bath solution, which drenches skin in moisture by way of high-performing olive and avocado oils.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The meaning of consciousness is immersion in multitudinous flowing tastes, olfactory rumors, vibrations, racing to understand before the ocean washes them away, these sensations like spherical and syncopated waves crashing against her hundred tentacles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Sops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sops. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
