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

Examples 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
Iran may be forced to make compromises — like scaling back or dropping support for proxies — in exchange for sanctions relief. Greg Myre, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025 The current and past U.S. administrations have not publicly recognized North Korea as a nuclear power, a status Pyongyang views as critical for its national defense and negotiating sanctions relief. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
Report Biden Preparing 'Substantial' Final Weapons Package for Ukraine: Report The United Kingdom joined the U.S. in sanctioning two of Russia's major oil producers, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, and dozens of the firms' subsidiaries on Friday. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025 In December, the US added more chip restrictions, sanctioning 140 companies and restricting AI memory exports. Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for sanction 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
  • An asylum-seeker may be able to stay in the U.S. and receive permission to work while their case is pending, which requires them to show up for interviews.
    Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2025
  • TikTok’s Terms and Policies acknowledge that creators own their original content but grant TikTok and its user base a range of permissions (a license), including the right to access, modify, and share their content on third-party platforms.
    Veronica Ramirez, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Father Missing a Limb and Son with Cerebral Palsy Weren't Able to Evacuate L.A. Fires in Time, Family Says CNN reported that the family applied for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency which was not approved.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
  • The City Council will vote Tuesday to approve the salary and terms of Milstein’s contract which will authorize her to oversee thousands of city employees and a $1.5 billion budget.
    Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Mexicans remain by far the largest group of people living in the country without authorization, but their share has declined significantly since the 1990s, according to data from the Pew Research Center.
    Allison McCann, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The project has received full authorization from POMASE, the official body managing Saint-Exupéry’s legacy.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • So in 1933, the 20th Amendment was ratified, changing Inauguration Day to Jan. 20 and the first session of the new Congress to Jan. 3.
    Chantelle Lee, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Inaugurations used to be held in March until the 20th Amendment was ratified in 1933, stating that the president's term began at noon on Jan. 20.
    Max Golembo, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In one instance cited in the agency's consent order, Cash App instructed a customer who reported an unauthorized debit card to contact the person's bank, shirking its statutory duty to investigate possible incidents of fraud.
    Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Schreiber and Patterson’s appointments were also listed on the City Council’s consent agenda that night.
    Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 17 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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