sanction 1 of 2

sanction

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb sanction differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sanction are accredit, approve, certify, and endorse. While all these words mean "to have or express a favorable opinion of," sanction implies both approval and authorization.

the President sanctioned covert operations

How do accredit and certify relate to one another, in the sense of sanction?

Both accredit and certify usually imply official endorsement attesting to conformity to set standards.

the board voted to accredit the college
must be certified to teach

In what contexts can approve take the place of sanction?

While the synonyms approve and sanction are close in meaning, approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration.

the parents approve of the marriage

When would endorse be a good substitute for sanction?

The synonyms endorse and sanction are sometimes interchangeable, but endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.

publicly endorsed her for Senator

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 sanction
Noun
Ukrainian authorities said at least 12 people were killed in Russian airstrikes overnight, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to renew his call for more sanctions. Bloomberg, Boston Herald, 26 May 2025 As President Trump backs away from tougher sanctions on Russia, Ukraine is urging the European Union to assume a greater leadership role with a sweeping new sanctions proposal, including asset seizures and secondary sanctions on Russian oil buyers such as India and China. Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
Houston again sanctioned county attorneys during the trial for violating the court’s orders by sharing trial transcripts with their use-of-force expert. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025 He’s sanctioned two round mass redundancies within the workforce and scrapped Christmas benefits and cut staff lunches around Carrington training ground. Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sanction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
  • Shadow on projects that excite you (with your manager’s permission).
    Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Before they could be disposed of, Lodge took the remains without the knowledge or permission of Harvard, the donor of the cadavers or the donor's family, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Donors could have offered direct payments to the city that the council would have needed to approve publicly, the report said.
    Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
  • Meanwhile, their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were also accused by prosecutors of approving false reports that contradicted evidence of the abuse Gabriel was suffering.
    Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • This agency oversees the authorization for manufacturing firms to sell and distribute these vaccines as part of an official USDA animal disease control program.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • This withdrawal came following the company’s public announcement to increase its share repurchase authorization to $750 million and commit to utilize $200 million of such authorization over the next three months and $500 million within the next 12 months.
    Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • This arms race between the U.S. in China is especially concerning given that there is no bilateral arms control agreement, and alongside Russia, neither country has ratified the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
    Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • In doing so, TMC has sought support from the one country which has not ratified UNCLOS: the United States.
    Victor Vescovo, Time, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Agencies and their clients did not give consent, and they have not been compensated.
    Henry Kurkowski, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Between 2011 and 2013, more than 1,000 phone calls between inmates and their attorneys were recorded at the private Leavenworth prison without consent.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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