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
At the time of the 2015 deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment and stockpiling of uranium in exchange for lifting of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar. Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 Abroad, the killings have tanked the new authorities’ hopes of legitimizing their rule before the international community and of ending sanctions on a country ravaged by nearly 14 years of civil war. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
Of these, only 338 vessels had been sanctioned by at least one of the key sanctioning jurisdictions such as the EU, the U.K., Canada and the U.S. Only 25 vessels were sanctioned by all four jurisdictions. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 The Associated Press reports there are 14 states that have sanctioned girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sanction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
  • To qualify as religious release time, educational instruction must take place off campus, with parental permission and with no public funding.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Some school districts require permission from parents to allow disciplinary paddling in school, while others do not require any communication.
    Christina Erickson, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Nicaragua’s Legislature approved a constitutional reform in late January, allowing Ortega and Murillo to serve as co-presidents of the Central American country.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
  • But to her disappointment, only three Miami applicants were approved.
    Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Related article Top vaccine official forced out of FDA And Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, who was instrumental in the development and authorization of mRNA vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic, was forced out of the agency this month.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Roughly 985,000 people used the app to make appointments at a port of entry at the border, with those who entered often permitted to seek asylum and given temporary work authorization.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Israel's Netanyahu to visit Hungary, defying International Criminal Court arrest warrant Hungary signed the ICC's founding document in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, but the law has not been promulgated.
    Reuters, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Tariffs made up around 50% of revenue for much of the late 1800s and early 1900s, including during the McKinley administration, until the 16th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1913, gave the federal government power to collect income tax.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • With the new features announced Tuesday, teens under 16 will be prevented from using the Instagram Live feature without parental consent.
    Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The Senate version co-sponsored by Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) was approved in the Senate by unanimous consent in February and is nearing passage in the House.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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