sop 1 of 2

Definition of sopnext
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

sop

2 of 2

verb

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
Noun
As a sop to preservationists, the university salvaged the 1848 façade and tower, keeping them freestanding and pointless, like a souvenir on a shelf. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025 The reinstatement was an obvious sop to the gambling industry, an MLB partner, and possibly also to President Donald Trump, who lobbied for Rose’s future election into the Hall of Fame. Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Verb
Marcus was drying off while still in the pool, leaving his towel sopping wet. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025 The other side of the sopping wet coin is how to counter these noises. New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
  • According to The Associated Press, prosecutors are investigating whether the sisters accepted bribes or kickbacks in connection with the appropriation of city funds to a migrant shelter provider.
    CBS New York Team, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The feds are reportedly investing whether the three received bribes in exchange for actions taken on behalf of BHRAGS Home Care, a nonprofit that provides in-home services to the sick and elderly but expanded to also include emergency shelters for migrants.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • My favorite corner housed the freestanding soaking tub, where Blue Lagoon bath salts sit on a side table for easy access.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Lentils don't need soaking, so once your ingredients are prepped and ready, simply toss them in your slow cooker before going about your day.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Lightly wet a microfiber cloth with warm water, being careful not to over-soak it.
    Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
  • 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.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Her income dipped back to $192,000 in 2024 before rising again last year to $300,000, when Porter returned to teaching law at the University of California-Irvine.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Though her offensive numbers dipped late in the season, her defensive consistency and versatility remained valuable.
    Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Project’s participants were instructed to fight one another and endure simulated drowning, among other humiliations and discomforts, while remaining awake for most of three days.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Authorities alleged Goldberg followed her and tried to drown her before a bystander intervened.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Raw meat was frozen in trash bags and an employee washed dishes without rinsing them.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The manager ordered more sanitizer and bleach during the inspection, and the dishware was corrected to be washed manually until the dishwasher has more sanitizer.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Arab foreign ministers on Sunday appointed veteran Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy as the head of the 22-member Arab League, at a time the Middle East is immersed in a regional war that shows no sign of abating.
    Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
  • In 2022, when AD featured the Los Angeles residence of Emma Chamberlain, the wildly popular internet phenom was already immersing herself in the world of home decor, gaining confidence and inspiration from her work with the interiors firm Proem.
    Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Rinse your scrubber and squeegee blade frequently, and swap out cloths when they get saturated.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
  • However, bright events often saturate detectors and are missed, so citizen reports to AMS often alert professionals and prompt manual archive checks.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sop

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster