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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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
The insect feeds on the sap of numerous wild, ornamental, and agricultural plants. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026 Through the forest of these pines, a patch of rotting thimbleberry, the scent of cooling sap. — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Verb
Even when the Delta breezes bring relief, some days the heat saps the appetite. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 And in the last quarter-century, relentless drought intensified by climate change has sapped the river’s flow and left its reservoirs severely depleted. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 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 voyage produced a 24 percent reduction in fuel consumption, according to measurements released by the maritime energy company.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • India's quarterly economic growth has exceeded expectations several times over the past year, defying a bleak global trade environment, high energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of energy
Noun
  • In 2019, when Altamirano was mayor pro tem, a council member accused Altamirano of sucker-punching him.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Often, a tree grows suckers in response to stress from pests, diseases, or damage, or to difficult conditions such as inadequate root space or insufficient water.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • As for full-body treatments, the Prickly Pear Sugar Scrub draws on Sonoran Desert botanicals like prickly pear and calendula extract, combined with cane-sugar-rich oils and hydrating body butter, for a thoroughly rejuvenating exfoliation.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That resident could be seen later walking with a cane after taking that leap of faith from his third-floor window.
    — Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of cane
Noun
  • At this point in the WSL’s existence, eight years since becoming a fully professional league, players now ageing out at the title contenders do so with all the advantages — finances, facilities, health — of only knowing full-time football.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Zambia is particularly sensitive amid tensions over US health assistance and mining, while Kenya is pursuing deeper US trade and investment.
    — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of health
Verb
  • Even if Korea can maintain 2% economic growth over the next two decades, consumption growth gradually weakens and eventually turns negative, according to Goldman’s long-term modeling.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken
Noun
  • Cutting back is done in mid-summer when foliage looks ragged and blooming slows to increase plant vigor, control height, and encourage a second flush of blooms.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Kittle, seven weeks since tearing his right Achilles in a wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia, was seen conditioning with vigor and impressive agility on a side field earlier this week.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of vigor
Noun
  • The Unbadged invited people to submit videos of personnel who used batons and tear gas against protestors without wearing a name badge, which police are legally required to wear.
    — Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Police found a collapsible baton inside the bag, but have not recovered any political leaflets that would suggest an act of protest.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of baton
Noun
  • But the country's key stock benchmarks are struggling to reflect that strength, hinting at a festering disconnect between markets and the economy.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • She was invested in young women and keeping the door open for the next generation of leaders, and her advocacy was always about fighting for the strength, intelligence, and dignity of women everywhere.
    — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 3 Sep. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sap

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sap

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