as in free hand
permission to do something in any way you choose to do it
We gave the decorator carte blanche to furnish the house.
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Recent Examples of carte blanche
The aggressive tactics used by some ICE agents there gave the agency a black eye, and gave progressive Democrats carte blanche to slam the very concept of immigration law.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
They are given carte blanche in creating for L’Artisan Parfumeur.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
World champion Alysa Liu has developed such a good relationship with one of her favorite artists, Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir, that the American essentially has carte blanche to use her music in any programs.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Trump can apparently give himself and his friends carte blanche to commit crimes, while deeming anybody who opposes him a criminal.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carte blanche
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
They are given carte blanche in creating for L’Artisan Parfumeur.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
World champion Alysa Liu has developed such a good relationship with one of her favorite artists, Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir, that the American essentially has carte blanche to use her music in any programs.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Trump can apparently give himself and his friends carte blanche to commit crimes, while deeming anybody who opposes him a criminal.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carte blanche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for carte blanche
Noun
-
The direction – which was visibly obeyed – is nothing new for repeat attendees of Welch’s shows, who have endured the agony of a phone-free hand for two minutes.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The 5-foot-7 junior showed slick moves to the basket and a nice shooting touch, aided by the referees’ unwillingness to whistle her for using her free hand to ward off defenders.—
Tris Wykes,
Twin Cities,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is an immensely important contract for the Blue Jackets, such that Coyle could be seen as having a blank check to set his terms.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Supporters are asking residents to write a blank check and trust that the money will eventually be put to good use.—
James Porter,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Carte blanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/carte%20blanche. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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