sanction 1 of 2

Definition of sanctionnext

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
Lawyers can face serious sanctions, including Florida Bar complaints, for citing nonexistent cases or misrepresenting prior rulings. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026 The immediate story is about ships, sanctions, ceasefires and price spikes. Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
In April, the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association sanctioned girls’ flag football as a varsity sport for the 2026-2027 academic year. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2026 The Al-Khayyat family prospered under the previous regime, and some relatives were sanctioned for supporting the government and profiting from the war. Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sanction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
  • Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
  • Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • That majority is like 72% of the voters approving the 2024 ballot question calling for state Auditor Diana DiZoglio to audit the Massachusetts Legislature which Campbell also sought to block.
    Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 25 June 2026
  • Violence was also discussed during Tuesday's Stockton City Council meeting as council members considered and approved a new mask ordinance.
    Nina Burns, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Patients must meet eligibility requirements, obtain a prescription and receive prior authorization approval through CMS before coverage begins.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 28 June 2026
  • If a taxpayer needs help from someone like a return preparer or another third party who needs to access the taxpayer’s information to support a Kwong claim, the IRS requires an authorization form (IRS Form 8821).
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ratified a local emergency proclamation as well to expand community support, environmental monitoring and business recovery assistance.
    Austin Turner, CBS News, 23 June 2026
  • Although women’s suffrage became the law of the land in 1920, the Equal Rights Amendment was never ratified.
    Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • The consent order would be updated multiple times to give the company more time to plug remaining wells.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
  • In the United States, at least 19 states have already passed laws restricting minors’ access to social media platforms — with eight states enacting outright bans or parental consent requirements.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • But, as is often the case with these kinds of monkey’s paws, the granting of a wish comes at a great cost—the wishmaker’s life.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 24 Apr. 2026
  • In this age of excess and endless wish granting, self denial becomes a superpower and a necessity.
    Maggie Anders, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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