1. the act of gradually weakening or undermining something
2. military technique of digging trenches or tunnels to approach or undermine enemy fortifications
Usage: military

1. gradually weakening or draining strength, energy, or resources
Usage: present participle of ‘sap’

Examples

• The long illness was sapping his strength.
• Years of stress were sapping her enthusiasm for work.
• The constant repairs are sapping our budget.
• The heat was sapping their energy during the hike.
• The sapping of morale became evident after the layoffs.
• Medieval armies used sapping to breach castle walls.
• The soldiers began sapping operations under cover of darkness.