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
But these are just MacGuffins: sops to the Beltway superfans. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024 Some Republicans are portraying the continuation of subsidies as a sop to health insurers. Peter Sullivan, Axios, 14 Aug. 2024
Verb
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 Here was a player listed at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds — and, to be clear, Reichard isn’t anywhere near 187 pounds sopping wet — flexing atop a much larger returner. Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
  • Adams partly made good on the bribes by forcing the FDNY to disregard safety concerns and prematurely open a Midtown skyscraper housing Turkey’s consulate in time for a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the case alleges.
    Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The bribes started at $1,000 a week in 2013 and snowballed into $10,000 bonuses and expensive gifts including an Apple MacBook, a John Deere tractor with a backhoe and loader, home bathroom fixtures and free electrical work, among other things, according to Foley’s office.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • How To Get Rid of and Prevent Smells in Stove Drip Pans To get rid of smells, Stein recommends soaking the drip pans in hot, soapy water with a splash of vinegar for about 15 minutes, then scrub thoroughly.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The spacious accommodations, starting at 1,130 square feet, also come with soaking tubs and either a private terrace or balcony for taking in the beautiful beachfront views.
    Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Firefighters instead tried to aim water right into the back of the garbage truck without wetting the CNG cylinders nearby on the roof.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Hertz and his men moved behind the restaurant, trying to wet the ground and tearing down a fence that would just provide more fuel to the fire.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • What To Know The newest polling from Gallup found support for Israel among American adults dropped to 46 percent in 2025, dipping below 50 percent for the first time during the time Gallup has tracked this topic—which appears to be since 2001.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Then, on Wednesday, enjoy a 5-piece order of French toast sticks to dip in delicious, sugary breakfast syrup for free, also with a purchase of $1 or more.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This blends well with many skin tones, not drowning out paler skin tones as brighter reds might do.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Ovechkin’s goal did not get much of a big reaction since the Rangers are still in the playoff race and visiting fans do not show up at Madison Square Garden in enough of a group to drown out the home crowd.
    Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While washing his hands, three men inside allegedly began harassing him about his jewelry before he was struck on the head and assaulted while trying to leave the restroom, the suit states. 2024-25 NBA CONFERENCE TITLE ODDS: WHICH TEAMS WILL MAKE THE NBA FINALS?
    Louis Casiano, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Also, Parachute recommends washing your towels before their first use to remove its silicone coating.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For a period starting in the late Nineties, you were immersed in the world of pro wrestling and were a consultant for WCW.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Daniel Edwards grew up immersed in the sights and sounds of construction — the scent of sawdust and the hum of machinery hauling lumber.
    J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But all 12 are saturated with deceit, consternation and heartbreak.
    Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
  • What began as a frustration with fashion’s one-size-fits-all approach evolved into a bold venture that challenged the norms of an industry saturated with sameness.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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