sap 1 of 2

noun

ˈsap How to pronounce sap (audio)
Definition of sapnext
1
as in energy
active strength of body or mind a child full of sap and vivacity

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2
as in sucker
one who is easily deceived or cheated some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam

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3
as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline

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4
as in health
the condition of being sound in body I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years

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sap

2 of 2

verb

as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Its bright and cheerful flowers produce a sap that attracts aphids and whiteflies, drawing their attention away from your peach tree. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 June 2026 This slows growth, destroys social trust, increases judgment and moralism, and saps societal happiness. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Verb
The wonder and excitement of the early days of video games and computer programs have been sapped from us thanks to artificial intelligence and coding wizards peeling the curtain back a little too far. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2026 Greenspan’s response to the stock market bubble in the 1990s earned him some criticism from economists who say the Fed chairman could have done more, specifically raise interest rates, to sap strength from the stock market bubble. — Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA Today, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sap
  1. energy
  2. sucker
  3. cane
  4. health
  5. weaken
  6. vigor
  7. baton
  8. strength
Noun
  • The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • Welcome to Climate Point, your weekly guide to the latest news about climate, energy and the environment.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of energy
Noun
  • Afterward, Kenins recommends removing water sprouts and suckers.
    — Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 July 2026
  • Any Bay State citizen from Boston to Great Barrington would have been handcuffed and hauled into court yesterday for sucker-punching a fellow bar patron the way a State Police officer did over the weekend.
    — Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • Aceh’s Sharia court ordered the two people to be whipped with a rattan cane 21 times each for kissing without being married.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Snappers, snakes, toy pistols with caps and toy canes with caps are the only fireworks allowed.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
Definition of cane
Noun
  • With more than 2,000 excess deaths recorded over six days at the peak of the June heat, according to health authorities, France’s cultural resistance to AC has started to soften.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • An emphasis on wellness means not only pampering spa treatments but advanced health tech, movement, and meditation sessions over an entire floor.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of health
Verb
  • The flow of dark traffic is one of the factors that helped explain why oil markets had weakened significantly by early June, together with a surge in exports from the US and pullback in buying by China.
    — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • But as several surveys have consistently indicated, optimism about our country's outlook has undeniably weakened.
    — Robert Hormats, Time, 4 July 2026
Definition of weaken
Noun
  • Deadheading helps redirect energy to the plant, improving overall vigor and reducing disease risk.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 27 June 2026
  • The crowd shook her car with such vigor that the 23-year-old Westminster resident couldn’t turn up the music like people shouted at her to do.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Definition of vigor
Noun
  • The officers hit him with a baton and shocked him seven times.
    — Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 30 June 2026
  • Somebody had dropped the baton.
    — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of baton
Noun
  • Additional laser pulses reveal how much the ion’s quantum state has changed, allowing researchers to calculate the strength of the surrounding electric field.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • The link held even after accounting for traditional risk factors, though the strength varied by racial and ethnic group, a gap researchers say still needs further study before firm conclusions can be drawn about why.
    — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Definition of strength

Browse Nearby Words

sans
sap
saphead
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Cite this Entry

“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sap

Nglish: Translation of sap for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sap

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