Definition of sopnext
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

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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 implication is that the Republican tax reform was intended as a sop to the rich and designed to favor only the president’s supporters. Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026 This was seen as a sop to the luxury sector of manufacturers like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Volkswagen’s Bentley and Lamborghini. Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the away end, on this putrid, sopping evening in N17, the bigger picture is steamrolled by the small. George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026 When the sopping girl has joined them on the beach, one of the producers separates from the huddle of production personnel. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sop
Noun
  • But the judge also noted Krneta’s dual role in facilitating the corruption of Tobolski, both paying bribes and collecting extortion payments from other contractors on the then-mayor’s behalf.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Corrupt naval officers turned ports they were supposed to be supervising into bribe-laden smuggling hubs, authorities say.
    Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Tropical Storm Lala is already soaking Hawaii’s Big Island and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane, prompting a rare warning for what could be the island’s first hurricane landfall in 155 years.
    Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Hardy hibiscus seeds germinate more easily; soak and nick seeds before planting indoors.
    Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In terms of lead or co-lead roles, women and girls have seen progress (38 films in 2025 compared to 20 in 2007), but the figure dipped from the 19-year high of 55 lead/co-lead roles in 2024.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Even though the forecast for this year is solid, with Cisco projecting revenue growth of about 15%, analysts see sales growth dipping next fiscal year back into the single digits.
    Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At least 115 people were crushed to death or drowned in the river below.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the whirlpools of history spin, and ordinary people, good and bad alike, drown in them.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • If there isn’t room in the dishwasher for a container and its lid, wait for the next cycle or hand wash them to ensure both top and bottom are clean at the same time.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The messages were created using temporary chalk and power-washing techniques, with a cleanup plan in place from the outset.
    Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Like Wenders’ 2023 documentary Anselm, on German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, From Inside Out was shot in 3D to immerse viewers in the spaces that Zumthor creates.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
  • From the outset, the show immerses audiences in 1930s New York, and while set in a noir world, there’s a modern aspect to it too.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Bubble sheet masks are made up of thin pieces of fabric that are saturated with a solution, which bubbles up as the mask sits on the skin.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • OpenAI’s lookbook for their capsule collection is an apparent homage to tastemaking brands like Kith and Aimé Leon Dore, two labels that turned laidback knitwear and box cut T-shirts into trends that saturated menswear in the last few years.
    T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sop. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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