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sap

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sap distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sap are cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, undermine, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think

In what contexts can cripple take the place of sap?

While the synonyms cripple and sap are close in meaning, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.

crippled by arthritis

When can debilitate be used instead of sap?

The words debilitate and sap are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When would disable be a good substitute for sap?

The words disable and sap can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

When might enfeeble be a better fit than sap?

While in some cases nearly identical to sap, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

Where would weaken be a reasonable alternative to sap?

In some situations, the words weaken and sap are roughly equivalent. However, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sap
Noun
Standout ingredients responsible for these benefits include bamboo sap water, green tea extract, gooseberry, and jackfruit extract — forming a natural dream team of sorts. Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 12 Feb. 2025 Once hatched, the nymphs suck plant sap for two to three weeks. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
However, Lillard's injury even saps them of flexibility in that regard. Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Over time, their resilience tends to erode when civic and business leaders or the public fail to make use of them, sapping the relevance of fair-minded readings of laws and procedures relative to frenzied dealmaking between individual organizations and an executive branch inclined to coercion. Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sap
Noun
  • The crypto and blockchain sectors require tech-savvy developers, compliance officers, clean energy producers, lawyers, financial analysts, and marketing professionals.
    Jeremy Cooney, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
  • The Sacramento Bee reached out to energy experts to find out the answer: Does setting my thermostat to 78 degrees actually save me money?
    Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • What the Nuggets need to do is find a sucker who is willing to talk themselves into the remaining $79 million over two years owed to Porter, while sending back a couple of quality role players.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Peppers that produce large fruit should only be lightly pruned to remove unproductive suckers, but smaller-fruited pepper plants can be pruned a little more aggressively to boost airflow and branching.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Carrying a wooden cane, Camus led Yarvin through the small town of Plieux.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
  • The former sovereign sometimes walks with a cane for support and was hospitalized after falling at her Fredensborg Castle home in September 2024.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • New research suggests just one cup of beans daily could lower heart health markers or inflammation in people with prediabetes.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 5 June 2025
  • The total could be much more: A special message sent to lawmakers outlines as much as $900 million in rescissions to global health.
    Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Bias, inaccuracies and missing values can all weaken model reliability.
    Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Coercing democratic allies such as Canada or Denmark more broadly weakens trust in U.S. alliances; threatening Panama reawakens fears of imperialism throughout Latin America; crippling the U.S. Agency for International Development undercuts the United States’ reputation for benevolence.
    Robert O. Keohane, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • That offensive stance has stood firm even as the stock market continues to be whipsawed by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies that change on a dime, while worries deepen about the vigor of the economy.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 30 May 2025
  • Micro-breaks, even as short as a few minutes, significantly boost vigor and reduce fatigue, though longer breaks have a greater positive impact on performance.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • YoungBoy takes the baton and aims at his detractors.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 21 May 2025
  • During his testimony, Mills said the officers were afraid and exhausted but noted that some of the methods used on Nichols complied with police department policies, including using wrist locks and hitting with a baton.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • On the services side, leisure and hospitality (38,000) and financial activities (20,000) provided some signs of strength.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 4 June 2025
  • Rather than demanding Arab and Muslim partners choose sides, Trump understands that a prosperous Gulf can engage from strength.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, semafor.com, 4 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sap. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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