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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
By the end of the day, their pants were pulled up to their knees and their shoes were sopping wet.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Noun
In a clip posted by Russia watcher Julia Davis, the guests suggested that Putin's agreement for a 30-day cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure was just a sop to Trump and showed no real intention by the Russian president to end hostilities.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Simpson emerged as a spear-carrier for Social Security benefit cuts in 2010, when he was appointed the GOP co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established by Barack Obama as a sop to conservative deficit hawks.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
Strain the sauce and drizzle some of it over the shredded pork (the pork should be lightly coated but not sopping wet).
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
By the end of the day, their pants were pulled up to their knees and their shoes were sopping wet.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
-
She was infamously shown stuffing $1,000 in cash bribes into her bra in a photo that was released by the feds.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Spagnuolo is very clear about supposed bribes paid by pharmaceutical companies in the context of purchases by Andis, to the tune of 5 to 8 percent, which were funneled directly into the pockets of the Menems and Karina.—
Agustino Fontevecchia,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Not with crisp, clean bedding but with your sheet coming out of the dryer balled up in your duvet cover, still soaking wet.—
Reuven Perlman,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
On their simulated planet, clouds released rain that froze into icebergs that melted and flowed down rivers, soaking soil and evaporating to rejoin the atmosphere.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Before going in, run the inside of your mouth with your tongue to wet every surface.—
Ian Kumamoto,
Them.,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Increase the resistance on this exercise by wetting the towel first.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Surveys suggest consumer confidence has dipped and auto loan defaults and repossessions are on the rise.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Stock prices dipped slightly in trading Wednesday after Oracle reported an upbeat outlook for cloud revenue and the Producer Price Index revealed a decline in wholesale prices in August.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s a risk of the children drowning in the pool or being bitten by spiders; there’s the danger of a brush fire on the nearby hillside; and more.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
That matters because SOCs are drowning in noise and budget strain from log ingestion.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Yet a surprisingly large number of dishes that are washed end up being washed by hand.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Indeed, rather than making the dog wash by himself, Osmin stood under the shower head and had to hold Buddah in his arms the entire time.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
You could be immersed in a home renovation project when work calls or feel a sense of guilt for asking your parents for a raincheck.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Todd-Avery Lenahan, president and chief creative officer of Wynn Design & Development, immerses guests in a mysterious, moody underwater world.—
Melinda Sheckells,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Younger people in developing countries are much more likely to be excited about emerging technologies than their peers in countries that are saturated with technology.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Because we are just saturated with these images.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share