| Stephens's strength had been sapped by a crash diet to produce the lean, mean Holmes that Wilder wanted. |
| Staff morale must be sapped by the ordeal of coping with crisis conditions day after day. |
| Unfortunately, its comedy potential is sapped from the start by overacting and exaggerated direction. |
| I pouted and folded my arms again, energy sapped because a certain so-and-so decided to shoot down my enthusiasm. |
| The uncertainty over the outcome of talks in Washington over the fiscal cliff has sapped the natural inclination to buy declining shares. |
| The end of the depression in 1878 and the government's resumption of specie payments in 1879 had sapped the party's fortunes. |
