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
Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
The second act begins to drag with slapdash vaudeville showcases that seem like sops to the performers.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
An ideal combination of a mop-and-bucket and a Swiffer-style wet-or-dry mop, a wet/dry vacuum utilizes the suction and rotation power of a vacuum with just enough moisture to keep things from getting sopping wet.
—Sarah Madaus, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sop
Noun
The main one is Lizzie, a young journalist stuck on the wedding beat at the local paper, with obits thrown in as a sop to her demand for equality.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
The second act begins to drag with slapdash vaudeville showcases that seem like sops to the performers.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
But in the Northeast and Midwest, that research points to a less concrete loss, of ice fishing and pond skating and dogsledding, and other parts of life that just aren’t as possible in a sopping wet, muddy winter.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024
An ideal combination of a mop-and-bucket and a Swiffer-style wet-or-dry mop, a wet/dry vacuum utilizes the suction and rotation power of a vacuum with just enough moisture to keep things from getting sopping wet.
—Sarah Madaus, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
-
Prosecutors alleged that Jenkins accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from various individuals, including two who were undercover FBI agents.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
26 May 2025
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Also, the administration announced a pause in criminal enforcement of a law that prohibits U.S. companies from paying bribes to foreign officials, according to NBC News.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
Cooking time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, plus overnight bean soak.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
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For stubborn stains, soak the linen in cool or lukewarm water with a small amount of oxygen bleach for up to a few hours.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
His mother wet a sponge to moisten his lips and tongue.—
Stephanie Armour,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2025
-
The president’s health has been the subject of speculation for years; in 2023, six journalists were arrested after they were accused of sharing a video that appeared to show the president wetting himself.—
Abdi Latif Dahir,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
The roll comes already dipped with soy sauce, so resist the urge to dunk each piece before taking a bite.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2025
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Soto was 0 for 4 and didn't get a ball out of the infield as his batting average dipped to .224.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
That’s no small feat in a world drowning in content.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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In the film, Charles survives a plane crash, nearly drowns and is finally eaten by a shark.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
-
The linen cotton blend isn’t see-through and is safe to machine wash on a gentle cycle and even tumble dry on low afterward.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
27 May 2025
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The brand recommends washing the mat in cold water on the gentle cycle, and tumble drying it on a low speed or laying it flat to air dry.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
-
This is the perfect time to immerse yourself in a passion project or share your latest ideas with those around you.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
29 May 2025
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Abbey Marino-Briggs, Adjunct Professor at the University of Tulsa and Founder of The Bold Professional, has spent the past seven years deeply immersed in the hiring process — managing recruitment, leading internship programs, and conducting over 1,000 job interviews.—
Julia Korn,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Verb
-
For large campuses, redundant programing is often needed, and there may be times in which saturating a campus with an outreach initiative is warranted.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Price’s staff alleged the blaze sent a toxic plume saturated with lead and other dangerous chemicals drifting over the East Bay, before the company’s staff allegedly tried covering it up.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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