SAP Synonyms: 277 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sap' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sap are cripple , debilitate , disable , enfeeble , undermine , and weaken . While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously. // a poor diet undermines your health // drugs had sapped his ability to think

Q: In what contexts can 'cripple' take the place of 'sap'?

While the synonyms cripple and sap are close in meaning, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element. // crippled by arthritis

Q: When can 'debilitate' be used instead of 'sap'?

The words debilitate and sap are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality. // the debilitating effects of surgery

Q: When would 'disable' be a good substitute for 'sap'?

The words disable and sap can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability. // disabled by an injury sustained at work

Q: When might 'enfeeble' be a better fit than 'sap'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sap , enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness. // enfeebled by starvation

Q: Where would 'weaken' be a reasonable alternative to 'sap'?

In some situations, the words weaken and sap are roughly equivalent. However, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power. // a disease that weakens the body's defenses

sap 1 of 2

noun

ˈsap

Definition of sap next

as in energy

active strength of body or mind a child full of sap and vivacity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sucker

one who is easily deceived or cheated some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam

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as in cane

a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline

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as in health

the condition of being sound in body I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years

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sap

2 of 2

verb

as in to weaken

to diminish the physical strength of weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sap distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sap are cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, undermine, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health

drugs had sapped his ability to think

In what contexts can cripple take the place of sap?

While the synonyms cripple and sap are close in meaning, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.

crippled by arthritis

When can debilitate be used instead of sap?

The words debilitate and sap are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When would disable be a good substitute for sap?

The words disable and sap can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

When might enfeeble be a better fit than sap?

While in some cases nearly identical to sap, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

Where would weaken be a reasonable alternative to sap?

In some situations, the words weaken and sap are roughly equivalent. However, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

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 sap

Noun

The precursor of the xylophone and marimba, a balafon is made by carefully cutting 21 wooden slats into different lengths, fixing them atop hallow calabashes, and striking them with mallets wound with the gum and sap of a rubber tree. —

Eliot Stein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024 And that this age of darkness will pass the way winters Pass when strong sap rises under the brittle bark. —

Czeslaw Milosz, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Verb

Injuries have sapped Middleton of his effectiveness. —

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025 Could a unionization effort sap some of the drama that keeps people watching if Housewives — known for backstabbing and bad-mouthing one another — had to band together to organize? —

Emma Bowman, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sap

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sap

Noun

This ditches the expensive and not very road-relevant MGU-H (which recovers waste energy from the turbocharger) in place of a much more powerful MGU-K (an electric motor/generator that can power the wheels or regenerate energy under braking) and a larger battery.

— Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 11 Feb. 2025
Someday, this will be Doncic’s franchise, but Monday’s Lakers debut was as much about the partnership between their two best players, No. 23 and No. 77 turning the building’s energy all the way to 100.

— Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025