as in permissions
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 approves
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 sanctions
Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
His secondary goal was to push for sanctions against Maduro and other high-ranking political and military officials in Venezuela after the president had cancelled the opposition’s victorious election results in the National Assembly.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Other European leaders long ago stopped discussing any security issues in the presence of Orbán himself, who has repeatedly used his veto to block European sanctions on Russia and European aid for Ukraine.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
In the space of a single week, the US struck Iran’s Kharg Island, temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports, allowed Iranian tankers carrying crude to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz en route to China, and faced off with Chinese officials in Paris for trade talks.
—Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Only a few, such as Florida, have laws with criminal sanctions.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
The Maduros and Venezuelan government are both sanctioned by the US so anybody seeking payment needs to obtain a license to avoid violating US sanctions laws.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
This, despite the recent lifting of some international sanctions and efforts to allow a market economy to flourish.
—Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Last October, the Treasury Department announced sanctions on Petro, members of his family, including his wife Verónica, and allies like Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, citing alleged links to drug trafficking networks.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
An autocratic government that sanctions violence.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
But some agricultural organizations that represent them have stressed their businesses will be hurt too if the US sanctions South Africa.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
God never sanctions cruelty; love that harms is not love at all.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
The continent is reliant on energy imports, and is still reeling from an energy shock caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and sanctions on Russian exports.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
His secondary goal was to push for sanctions against Maduro and other high-ranking political and military officials in Venezuela after the president had cancelled the opposition’s victorious election results in the National Assembly.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Other European leaders long ago stopped discussing any security issues in the presence of Orbán himself, who has repeatedly used his veto to block European sanctions on Russia and European aid for Ukraine.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
In the space of a single week, the US struck Iran’s Kharg Island, temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports, allowed Iranian tankers carrying crude to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz en route to China, and faced off with Chinese officials in Paris for trade talks.
—Clay Chandler, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Only a few, such as Florida, have laws with criminal sanctions.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
The Maduros and Venezuelan government are both sanctioned by the US so anybody seeking payment needs to obtain a license to avoid violating US sanctions laws.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
This, despite the recent lifting of some international sanctions and efforts to allow a market economy to flourish.
—Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Last October, the Treasury Department announced sanctions on Petro, members of his family, including his wife Verónica, and allies like Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, citing alleged links to drug trafficking networks.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
For starters the World Cup is run by the same organization, FIFA, which sanctions virtually every level of soccer globally, from the men’s and women’s World Cups, to confederation competitions including the UEFA Championships and the Copa América, to most major age-group tournaments.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
An autocratic government that sanctions violence.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
But some agricultural organizations that represent them have stressed their businesses will be hurt too if the US sanctions South Africa.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
God never sanctions cruelty; love that harms is not love at all.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctions
Noun
-
Challenges can crop up every step of the way– from finding a site, securing proper permissions and permitting, accessing power, constructing the physical structure, delivering the hardware to finally bringing it online.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers found that this app requests 33 permissions, including access to text messages, call logs, contacts, microphone recordings and accessibility features.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Who within the district — executive director, deputy chief of operations or another administrator — approves a purchase depends on the amount.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Issuers have no say in this process once a court approves the filing.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Insurance plans often have cost-sharing requirements and red tape such as prior authorizations that can delay or deny coverage.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
-
While authorizations with oversight conditions weren’t unusual, arriving at one under these circumstances was.—
Renee Dudley,
ProPublica,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Others feel that the treaty effectively ratifies something that already exists.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Deal to cut tariffs and ease regulatory barriers A formal signing of the deal could come later this year after officials go through the legal details of the text and the EU Parliament ratifies it.—
Rajesh Roy,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Failure to provide additional information or consents will be grounds for disqualification, unless prohibited under applicable law.—
Time,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Before allowing the use of advertising pixels, cookies or other tracking tools, businesses should investigate what those technologies collect, how that data will be used and what disclosures or consents are required.—
Jodi Daniels,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Global Wellness Institute’s 2025 Breathe Initiative confirms breathwork is gaining serious mainstream momentum.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
This confirms them with honors.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctions. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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