sap
1 of 4noun (1)
sap
2 of 4verb (1)
transitive verb
sap
3 of 4verb (2)
intransitive verb
transitive verb
sap
4 of 4noun (2)
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- beans
- bounce
- brio
- dash
- drive
- dynamism
- energy
- esprit
- gas
- get-up-and-go
- ginger
- go
- gusto
- hardihood
- juice
- life
- moxie
- oomph
- pep
- punch
- snap
- starch
- verve
- vigor
- vim
- vinegar
- vitality
- zing
- zip
Verb (1)
- debilitate
- devitalize
- enervate
- enfeeble
- etiolate
- prostrate
- soften
- tire
- waste
- weaken
Word History
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English sæp; akin to Old High German saf sap
Verb (2)
Middle French sapper, from Old Italian zappare, from zappa hoe
Noun (2)
French sape, from saper
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun (2)
1642, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing sap
Kids Definition
sap 1 of 2
noun
sap
2 of 2verb
Jack London, The Call of the Wild Medical Definition
sap
sap 1 of 2
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- energy
- vigor
- juice
- gas
- strength
- stamina
- vitality
- spirit
- ginger
- power
- vim
- life
- beans
- starch
- dynamism
- pep
- gusto
- vinegar
- verve
- zing
- muscle
- punch
- esprit
- dash
- zeal
- brio
- oomph
- drive
- bounce
- moxie
- hardihood
- go
- passion
- zip
- get-up-and-go
- spunk
- briskness
- vivacity
- fire
- snap
- sprightliness
- vivaciousness
- fitness
- spiritedness
- animation
- soundness
- liveliness
- fervor
- élan
- vibrancy
- potency
- vibrance
- virility
- spunkiness
- health
- ardor
- jauntiness
- metal
- snappiness
- animal spirits
- huskiness
- hardiness
- main
- mettle
- brawniness
- might
- puissance
- sturdiness
- wellness
- verdure
- healthiness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lethargy
- sluggishness
- listlessness
- weakness
- indolence
- laziness
- torpidity
- tenderness
- debility
- exhaustion
- softness
- impotence
- powerlessness
- feebleness
- frailty
- enfeeblement
- infirmity
- impotency
- debilitation
- delicacy
- faintness
- prostration
- inanition
- disablement
- enervation
- slightness
- puniness
- frailness
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sucker
- tool
- victim
- patsy
- chump
- pigeon
- soft touch
- target
- gull
- dupe
- loser
- pushover
- fool
- goose
- mug
- schlemiel
- butt
- idiot
- monkey
- cat's-paw
- turkey
- moron
- mock
- simp
- lunatic
- mockery
- shlemiel
- ninny
- imbecile
- simpleton
- dope
- mark
- jackass
- booby
- derision
- blockhead
- nincompoop
- dolt
- laughingstock
- dummy
- dodo
- schlump
- dunce
- nitwit
- schnook
- yo-yo
- schlub
- shlub
- half-wit
- dumbbell
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sharper
- confidence man
- shark
- swindler
- dodger
- trickster
- cheater
- cheat
- slicker
- cozener
- defrauder
- hoaxer
Synonyms & Similar Words
- cane
- baton
- bat
- billy
- mace
- bludgeon
- cudgel
- mallet
- hammer
- birch
- billy club
- waddy
- staff
- shillelagh
- rod
- bastinade
- truncheon
- shillalah
- bastinado
- beetle
- club
- nightstick
- hickory
- rattan
- maul
- rung
- sledgehammer
- blackjack
- stave
- knobkerrie
- switch
- crook
- crabstick
- walking stick
- crosier
- whangee
- gavel
- crozier
Synonyms & Similar Words
- strength
- vigor
- health
- stamina
- wholesomeness
- fitness
- heartiness
- wellness
- agility
- healthiness
- verdure
- soundness
- robustness
- vitality
- vigorousness
- toughness
- lustiness
- wholeness
- hardiness
- weal
- hygiene
- activeness
- cleanliness
- fettle
- welfare
- ruggedness
- liveliness
- spryness
- flush
- shape
- flushness
- bloom
- robustiousness
- well-being
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sickness
- illness
- weakness
- debility
- unsoundness
- feebleness
- disease
- infirmity
- unhealthiness
- lameness
- sickliness
- malady
- trouble
- condition
- ailment
- decrepitude
- disorder
- frailness
sap
2 of 2verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- weaken
- waste
- soften
- tire
- enervate
- devitalize
- enfeeble
- debilitate
- hurt
- damage
- exhaust
- injure
- deplete
- paralyze
- etiolate
- prostrate
- cripple
- depress
- impair
- harm
- incapacitate
- unman
- hamstring
- impoverish
- invalid
- wash out
- lay up
- disable
- wear out
- wear down
- grind (down)
- break down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthen
- energize
- fortify
- recruit
- invigorate
- harden
- rejuvenate
- vitalize
- beef (up)
- season
- toughen
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of sap are cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, undermine, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.
While the synonyms cripple and sap are close in meaning, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.
The words debilitate and sap are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.
The words disable and sap can be used in similar contexts, but disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.
While in some cases nearly identical to sap, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.
In some situations, the words weaken and sap are roughly equivalent. However, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.