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

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 approve Burnet, Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties have been approved for FEMA's Individual Assistance program. Amanda Castro hannah Parry peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025 After the fires, the state’s largest insurer, State Farm, managed to get California’s insurance regulator to approve a 17% premium hike, but only after threatening to leave the state. Scott Cohn, CNBC, 11 July 2025 Separately, Apple has approved the first iOS game allowing players can spend small amounts of bitcoin for in-game extras. Medora Lee, USA Today, 11 July 2025 The Overland Park City Council recently approved a purchase and sale agreement for a seven-story, 154,000-square foot building on College Boulevard and Metcalf Avenue to create a new City Hall building. Taylor O’Connor 11, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for approve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for approve
Verb
  • Has a top jockey in the irons, but can’t see him being ratified here.
    Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Visual effects workers employed by Saturday Night Live have ratified their first union contract.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Trump also polled the members of Congress present about firing Powell and received a positive response, Reuters later confirmed.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • According to court records, officials from the Hopkins County Department of Health announced a rise in giardia cases in the county July 7 and confirmed an outbreak July 11 after linking the spike to El Tapatio Mexican Cantina in Madisonville.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Then, in May 2024, the NFL finalized its commitment by approving player participation during its annual spring meeting, which was a somewhat surprising move.
    Mark LaSota, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • The company recently finalized its design of the nine-passenger amphibious aircraft and started building a prototype.
    Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • This is because the clerics who have issued or endorsed the threats belong to an ultra-hard-line camp inherently against any diplomatic engagements with the U.S. or the West.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • The teachers union joins a growing list of labor organizations endorsing Wu in her incumbent campaign against Josh Kraft, including the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, several SEIU locals, Teamsters Local 25 and more.
    Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The 45-year-old accepted a wild card to the Mubadala Citi Open in Washington, D.C. Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit a pair of home runs last night to bring his season total to 38, one shy of Barry Bonds’ 2001 record for homers before the All-Star break.
    Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • The bank could accept up to $5 billion during a fiscal year for the loans, loan guarantees, and bonds for eligible projects.
    Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Simply put, Global Payments, as a merchant acquirer, acts as a middleman between the merchant and card network to authorize and facilitate transactions.
    Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 19 July 2025
  • But radio stations could go dark or cut programming after Congress voted to claw back federal funds given through Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit authorized by Congress in 1967.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Approve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approve. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on approve

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