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
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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
Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
Spring is here, which means hydration and moisture is the biggest trend, from sopping wet curls to sleek chignons and water waves.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 14 Apr. 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
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
Spring is here, which means hydration and moisture is the biggest trend, from sopping wet curls to sleek chignons and water waves.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
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Wilkerson was convicted after 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,
7 Sep. 2025
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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
-
Don't let your soil dry out then soak it.—
Amy Brightfield,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Once soaked, take them out and rinse the parts thoroughly.—
Abby Fribush,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Potential for wetting rain exists and could provide additional containment opportunities.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
To clean, start by wetting the inside of your shower.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Surveys suggest consumer confidence has dipped and auto loan defaults and repossessions are on the rise.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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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
-
After a man drowned off a popular Anna Maria Island beach over the Labor Day weekend, city officials are speeding up plans to ban swimming in the area.—
Ryan Ballogg,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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On Wednesday, as one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims spoke outside the Capitol, pleading for government candor, fighter jets roared overhead, briefly drowning her out.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dry Dill To dry dill, wash and dry it thoroughly.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
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The base can even wash the mops with water heated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit to remove grease.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From Liu Li Palace’s Cantonese excellence to RASA’s international offerings, guests can immerse themselves in a culinary journey without leaving the hotel.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The husband-and-wife co-founders grew up in Brooklyn and spent their youth immersed in Williamsburg’s creative and cultural scene in the late 2000s.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In pastel satin, the shoe softened the architecture while saturating the butter tone that has been trending on red carpets all month.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
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The devices nearly saturated the ground, and boosted humidity in the grove by 20%, dampening fire spread, Zwierzchowski said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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