1
a
: the fluid part of a plant
specifically
: a watery solution that circulates through a plant's vascular system
b(1)
: a body fluid (such as blood) essential to life, health, or vigor
(2)
: bodily health and vigor
2
: a foolish gullible person
sapped; sapping
sapped; sapping
: to proceed by digging a sap
1
: to subvert by digging or eroding the substratum or foundation : undermine
2
a
: to gradually diminish the supply or intensity of
sapped her strength
b
: to weaken or exhaust the energy or vitality of
the illness sapped him of his stamina
3
: to operate against or pierce by a sap
: the extension of a trench to a point beneath an enemy's fortifications
Synonyms
Examples of sap in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a child full of sap and vivacity
some poor sap would probably fall for that telephone scam
the sadistic prison guards freely used their saps to enforce discipline
I may no longer have the sap of youth, but I do have the sapience that comes only with advanced years
Verb (1)
weeks of hard work had sapped her and left her exhausted
Recent Examples on the Web
Bronwen Everill, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2024
Its monthslong campaign to cripple Ukraine's electricity supply aims to sap public morale and deny energy to Ukraine's burgeoning arms industry.
—arkansasonline.com, 26 June 2024
Quitting takes someone out of the labor market, sapping energy away from the economy.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 26 June 2024
Declining factory jobs in the automotive, heavy machinery and farm equipment industries reduced the number of union members, sapping a major source of Democratic strength in the state.
—Jonathan J. Kasparek, The Conversation, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sap 
Verb
Ten months into the Civil War, the Union was short on a crucial supply, the absence of which threatened to sap the fighting strength of the Northern army: coffee.
—Bronwen Everill, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2024
Its monthslong campaign to cripple Ukraine's electricity supply aims to sap public morale and deny energy to Ukraine's burgeoning arms industry.
—arkansasonline.com, 26 June 2024
Quitting takes someone out of the labor market, sapping energy away from the economy.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 26 June 2024
Declining factory jobs in the automotive, heavy machinery and farm equipment industries reduced the number of union members, sapping a major source of Democratic strength in the state.
—Jonathan J. Kasparek, The Conversation, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sap
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sap
1 of 2 noun1
: the fluid part of a plant
especially
: a watery solution that circulates through a higher plant and carries food and nutrients
2
: bodily health and vigor : vitality sense 3b
3
: a foolish person who is easily tricked or cheated
sap
2 of 2 verb
sapped; sapping
1
: undermine sense 2
heavy waves sapped the seawall
2
: to weaken gradually
illness sapped my strength
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