as in permission
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something
you cannot make a student video without your faculty advisor's sanction of its subject matter prior to shooting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to approve
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory
the administration will sanction almost any field trip with educational value
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sanction
Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
But since the invasion — and the battery of economic sanctions imposed by the West on Russia — the country has become an even trickier place for companies.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
Earlier this month, Zelenskyy signed a decree sanctioning Poroshenko and several other politically connected wealthy Ukrainians for allegedly undermining national security.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanction
Noun
But Luxembourg—which has a deal to develop Kigali as a financial center—has unilaterally blocked tough sanctions by the European Union itself, highlighting how easily the narrow interests of individual European states can undermine action.
—Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2025
But since the invasion — and the battery of economic sanctions imposed by the West on Russia — the country has become an even trickier place for companies.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
One person who took the cool moment factor a bit too far was Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava, who was sanctioned by Concacaf for approaching Messi at the final whistle of the game in Kansas City last week and asking for his autograph to give to a family member with special needs.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
Earlier this month, Zelenskyy signed a decree sanctioning Poroshenko and several other politically connected wealthy Ukrainians for allegedly undermining national security.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
-
Alas for true love and territorial aspirations, on his way back to St. Petersburg for further orders and permission to marry, Rezanov got sick, again and again, and finally died after falling from his horse.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
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Excerpted by permission of Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.—
Ana Calderone,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Caps on vaccines and insulin costs for Medicare recipients were instituted under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a federal law approved by Congress.—
Nate Trela,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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The American Parkway Plan Commissioner Chris Shultz admitted that changes at Sailor Bar were required to adhere to the broader American River Parkway Plan, which was approved by supervisors in 2008.—
Emma Hall,
Sacramento Bee,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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All the mayors, Johnson included, were effective in arguing that their cities’ law enforcement officers cooperate routinely with the feds in enforcing criminal warrants for people in the country without authorization.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
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Without authorization from the agency, the payouts cannot go forward, the sources said.—
Douglas Gillison,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by the unit with 96% voter participation and ratified with 93% support.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2025
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Birthright citizenship was ratified as the 14th Amendment to the Constitution in 1868.—
Bart Jansen,
USA TODAY,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The auction proceeded despite fierce opposition from thousands of artists, who have argued AI models of exploiting human creativity without consent.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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Volunteers must be 21 and consent to background check.—
Joe Rassel,
Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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