sop 1 of 2

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

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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
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 This was done as a sop to progressive activists in the name of fighting climate change. Editorial, Boston Herald, 2 Feb. 2025
Verb
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 Plants do not want to stay sopping wet, so always stick your finger in the soil and check the moisture level before giving your plant a drink. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
  • 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, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Federal prosecutors accused Nadine and Bob Menendez of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and lavish gifts from three New Jersey businessmen who sought help with legal troubles and business affairs.
    Ella Lee, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Injuries swept through the roster like an Orlando thunderstorm — sudden and soaking.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Try a deep soaking tub with jets, a walk-in shower with custom shower head, sauna, high-tech toilet seat, or heated towel bars to make an ordinary bathroom feel luxurious.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Diagnosis Exams typically begin with a thorough medical history because there is a genetic component to wet AMD, and other health factors can raise your risk.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Serve Use a lime wedge to wet the rim and the side of the bottle.
    Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Disapproval of Trump's tariffs is widespread, and his overall approval rating has dipped.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Photograph: Robyn Beck/Getty Images Tesla brought in 20 percent less automotive revenue at the end of last year compared to the year previous, the company reported today, as demand for its electric cars appear to have dipped precipitously across the globe.
    Aarian Marshall, Wired News, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The swimmer drowned about 4:45 p.m. in the river near the 2500 block of Roberts Cut Off Road.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In one of the most stunning miracles in all of biblical literature, God parts the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to cross but causes the waters to rejoin when the Egyptian army enters, drowning the dictator and his army.
    Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Reynolds’ colleagues found 97% of people had never washed them, and many were contaminated by bacteria, including E. coli, from foods like raw meats and produce.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • One of the incidents involved a mother and son whose vehicle was washed into a creek and later wedged against a drainage pipe, police told CNN affiliate KOCO.
    Matthew Rehbein, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • When buprenorphine arrived in the U.S. in 2002, the country was immersed in what would later be categorized as the first wave of the opioid epidemic.
    Ethan Brooks, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
  • No shirt, spliff in hand, and totally in his element, Wiz made sure the crowd was fully immersed in his trippy world.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Make sure each strand is fully saturated, then let the product sit for 40 to 60 minutes.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1944, Davis grew up in an environment saturated with both terror and resistance.
    Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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