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 two countries have been particularly hostile to each other since Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979, resulting in economic sanctions and the severing of formal diplomatic relations between the nations. Jeffrey Fields, The Conversation, 18 June 2025 The upshot was that a party faced with a discovery motion seeking monetary relief or a motion for sanctions could challenge the motion itself by bringing a TCPA special motion. Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
But the plaintiffs in the suit against Trump argued that IEEPA doesn’t give the president the power to impose sweeping tariffs on trade partners across the globe—or sanction his ability to leverage duties in any way. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 17 June 2025 Ultimately for Crane and CSF, however, there may be a rationale for the sale or swap of some federal lands, but the budget reconciliation process is not where any transaction should be sanctioned. Chris Dorsey, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sanction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
  • In order to hunt on private land, hunters must have written permission, Meeker said.
    Harley Walls, Arkansas Online, 29 June 2025
  • Three authors — novelist Andrea Bartz and nonfiction writers Charles Graeber and Kirk Wallace Johnson — sued Anthropic for using their works without permission.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Two more property insurers have been approved to serve Florida’s beleaguered homeowner market, the state Office of Insurance Regulation announced.
    Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2025
  • In 2023, the PSC approved a $400 million rate increase for BGE delivery rates despite opposition from consumer advocates and the Baltimore City Council.
    Emily Scarr, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • At a press conference, Johnson said the War Powers Act of 1973, which limits presidential military action without congressional authorization, is unconstitutional.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • Frightened for her daughter’s life, Paulina’s mother did not sign the authorization.
    Rebecca Grant June 24, Literary Hub, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Nonfiction entertainment workers who are members of the Writers Guild of America East have ratified a first union agreement with prestige documentary company Story Syndicate.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
  • The Bluegrass State didn't symbolically ratify the 13th Amendment until March 18, 1976 − when Gerald Ford was president.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • The deployment of 4,000 Guard members — along with 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms — marked the first time since 1965 that a president had federalized a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent.
    Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025
  • Under a very targeted reading of an obscure statute, Trump moved to federalize the Golden State National Guard on June 7 without Newsom’s consent in response to protests over a flood of ICE raids in and around LA on June 6.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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