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
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Recent Examples of sop
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Getting rid of property taxes in particular feels like a sop for the well-heeled.
—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
When the sopping girl has joined them on the beach, one of the producers separates from the huddle of production personnel.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sop
Noun
Another candidate was an outspoken opponent, contending that the project was a sop to developers.
—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Getting rid of property taxes in particular feels like a sop for the well-heeled.
—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
In the away end, on this putrid, sopping evening in N17, the bigger picture is steamrolled by the small.
—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
When the sopping girl has joined them on the beach, one of the producers separates from the huddle of production personnel.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
-
At first glance, neither player seemed to be vulnerable to bribes from gamblers.
-
Beasley, for his part, allegedly received bribes to pay off his debts.
Verb
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As the sun began to rise over the Atlanta skyline on the nation’s 250th birthday, racers, soaking with sweat from head to toe, were locked stride for stride with one another during the 2026 Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race.
-
Be sure to soak an untreated cedar plank in water for 1 to 2 hours before cooking.
Verb
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The father, Marquise Anderson, said Joanna wet the bed on two occasions on a night in February at the house in the 1900 block of Daniel Street.
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Considerations Before Getting Started Before cleaning your sidewalks, gather some basic safety equipment such as gloves and eye protection, and protect plants and grass bordering your sidewalk from bleach and cleaners by wetting them down and covering them with plastic sheeting or old towels.
Verb
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Wall Street was mixed in light trading early Thursday as chip stocks fell further and oil prices dipped near their levels before the Iran war began.
-
The number of Tarrant County kindergartners vaccinated against measles dipped slightly last school year, according to the latest data.
Verb
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The wave of progressive candidates challenging mainstream Democrats may drown Sens.
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Kamal, a 60-year-old Palestinian man, is ordered by an Israeli court in Jerusalem to pay a large social security debt on behalf of his son Wael, who drowned in the Red Sea over 20 years ago, or so Kamal was told.
Verb
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Contrary to what those face-washing commercials from our childhood led us to believe, your skin doesn't need to feel tight or squeaky-clean after cleansing.
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For example, using the same cutting board for raw chicken and fresh vegetables without washing it in between can spread bacteria.
Verb
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Guests can opt to immerse in the buzz of Queenstown, or tuck into the property’s over-staffed elegance, as the property has an exceptionally high staff-to-guest ratio.
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For those who want to truly immerse themselves in American history, these are must-visit sites.
Verb
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Mid-range uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) can suppress, distract, saturate, and expose Russian air defenses.
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Forbes says the lowest dose shown to saturate muscles is 3 grams per day.
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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