approve

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb approve differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of approve are accredit, certify, endorse, and sanction. While all these words mean "to have or express a favorable opinion of," approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration.

the parents approve of the marriage

How are the words accredit and certify related as synonyms of approve?

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

When might endorse be a better fit than approve?

Although the words endorse and approve have much in common, endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.

publicly endorsed her for Senator

When can sanction be used instead of approve?

In some situations, the words sanction and approve are roughly equivalent. However, sanction implies both approval and authorization.

the President sanctioned covert operations

Examples of approve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The scientific community’s willingness to embrace this evolution is crucial; the more robust the research backing cannabinoids, the more likely regulatory bodies will approve their use in mainstream medicine. Calvin Rasode, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024 Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter naxalone product. Faith Karimi, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new kit that tests for both COVID and flu. Korin Miller, Health, 25 Oct. 2024 Gilbert will ask voters to approve two ballot propositions related to spending rules. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for approve 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'approve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near approve

Cite this Entry

“Approve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approve. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on approve

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