sanction 1 of 2

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
The situation also raises broader questions about the global enforcement of sanctions and the role of international actors in Iran's military developments. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 The United States and Europe have been hesitant to lift harsh sanctions imposed on Syria during Assad's rule until they are convinced that the new leaders will create an inclusive political system and protect minorities. arkansasonline.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
But the corrections officers union, which has not sanctioned the strike and has been urging officers to go back to work, disavowed the vote. Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025 Yates doubled down on this assertion to The Charlotte Observer on Thursday, about 24 hours after NASCAR filed a counterclaim to the lawsuit involving the sanctioning body and 23XI and FRM. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sanction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
  • Two days after the crash, the owner of the Nissan Altima — Rodger’s aunt — told police that Rodgers had taken the car without permission and was driving it at the time of the crash.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Defensive end Trey Hendrickson, meanwhile, is the team’s only great pass rusher on an already-iffy defense, and he’s actually been given permission to find a trade partner as he won’t be kept around long term.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Earlier on January 13, 2025, IAC announced that its Board of Directors had approved a plan to spin off its entire stake in ANGI.
    Joe Cornell, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Congress could still approve a joint resolution to terminate the president's national emergency.
    John Parkinson, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In 2022, immigrants working in the United States without legal authorization paid $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes and $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes, according to a recent analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
    Jane C. Timm, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Their hypothetical rap sheet could begin and end with entering the U.S. illegally, a misdemeanor, or residing in the U.S. without authorization, a civil offense.
    Nelson Mauricio Rauda Zablah, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Ottawa Treaty is an international agreement signed in 1997 that has been ratified or acceded to by more than 160 nations, and in withdrawing from it, Warsaw and the Baltic nations can begin stockpiling and using landmines for the first time in nearly 30 years.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The formal establishment of an organization to manage Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River basin, shared by Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, was never formally ratified by its member countries.
    Melissa McCracken, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • While human subjects need to provide consent to be studied, most species do not.
    Bradley Wade Bishop, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The nuclear plant was constructed without tribal consent half a century ago, just a few years before Prairie Island received electricity and running water, Johnson said.
    Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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