as in bribe
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 to soak
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 to wet
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 to dip
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
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 sop
Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024
His most recent sop to progressives is nationwide rent control, an idea almost unanimously detested by economists.
—Catherine Rampell, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024
Keith sees that the cockpit floor is sopping wet since Emma just rinsed it in her last hour.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sop 
Noun
Several environmental groups have come out against them, especially the hubs focused on blue hydrogen, which their foes consider a sop to the fossil-fuel industry with high potential for carbon dioxide leaks.
—Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024
His most recent sop to progressives is nationwide rent control, an idea almost unanimously detested by economists.
—Catherine Rampell, Washington Post, 19 July 2024
Verb
Here was a player listed at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds — and, to be clear, Reichard isn’t anywhere near 187 pounds sopping wet — flexing atop a much larger returner.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024
Keith sees that the cockpit floor is sopping wet since Emma just rinsed it in her last hour.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
-
For his part, Taylor aims to tap the 86,000 voters who supported Thao’s recall, especially after federal prosecutors accused the ex-mayor of accepting bribes in the form of negative 2022 campaign mailers against him.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
The Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2025
-
Federal prosecutors claim Thao and her boyfriend Andre Jones accepted bribes from California Waste Solutions executives David and Andy Duong in exchange for favorable treatment with their business ventures that totaled millions in city contracts.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
But if not, wet mopping can harm your floors since there's no barrier to stop water from soaking the wood.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2025
-
It’s made by soaking ground fenugreek for several hours; beating it to a consistency that registers somewhere between meringue and Cool Whip; and then stirring in a puree of scallions and herbs.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
This keeps the plant roots wet longer and can lead to the formation of fungal diseases and root rot.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Movies like High Tension (2003) and Martyrs (2008) would have even Eli Roth wetting his knickers, and Inside is no exception.—
Huntley Woods,
EW.com,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
While cases reported to the CDC by health departments dipped over the winter holidays, weekly infections have accelerated for a month straight since then.—
Alexander Tin,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Any hard-to-reach places can be cleaned with a small brush dipped in the cleaning solution if a microfiber cloth isn't doing the job.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The most important thing is to drown out the noise, forget the optics, and focus on creating your most loving experience on Valentine’s Day and beyond.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
11 Feb. 2025
-
In 2013, the Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano nearly drowned when a blockage in his suit’s cooling system flooded his helmet with water.—
Dhruv Khullar,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Add it to your daily wash routine for best results.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The American Academy of Dermatology Association says shingles rashes should be washed with a fragrance-free cleanser, coated with pure petroleum jelly, and covered with a clean, nonstick bandage daily until the blisters are completely healed.—
Brittany Risher,
SELF,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Zoom in: On Wednesday and Friday, visitors can immerse themselves in 45-minute light shows in the cathedral's lofty, gothic nave from 6-9pm.—
Anna Spiegel,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
-
This intimate yacht-style cruise immersed in the vibrancy of Panama and Costa Rica with an emphasis on responsible tourism – a cornerstone of the five-year-old partnership between Le Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel program of the Smithsonian Institution.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The storm arrived on Friday, saturating the northern half of California with heavy rain, as well as snow in higher elevations.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
-
The soil becomes overly saturated, the roots rot, and the plants die.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sop
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share