Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

sanction

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of sanction

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 of sanction

allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, leave, license (or licence), permission, sufferance, warrant
Words Related to sanction

imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp

accreditation, certification

liberty, pass

concession, patent, permit

tolerance, toleration

acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, OK (or okay)

accord, grant
Near Antonyms of sanction

denial, refusal, rejection, revocation

injunction, veto

deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression

ban, embargo, exclusion
Antonyms of sanction

interdiction, prohibition, proscription

sanction

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of sanction

to give official acceptance of as satisfactory
  • The administration will sanction almost any field trip with educational value.
Synonyms of sanction

accredit, approve, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, OK (or okay), ratify, warrant
Words Related to sanction

accept, acknowledge, affirm

certify, endorse (also indorse), validate

bless, canonize, sanctify

initial, rubber-stamp, sign, sign off (on)

allow, enable, legalize, license (also licence), pass, permit

reapprove
Near Antonyms of sanction

ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe

disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn
Antonyms of sanction

decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto

Synonym Discussion of sanction

approve, endorse, sanction, accredit, certify 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
endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.
    • publicly endorsed her for Senator
sanction implies both approval and authorization.
    • the President sanctioned covert operations
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

Learn More about sanction

  1. Dictionary: Definition of sanction Spanish Central: Translation of sanction Nglish: Translation of sanction for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sanction for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sanction

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sanction? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

traduce

play

to lower or disgrace the reputation of

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

  5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image236659401
Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

alt-5ada140ed3e28
'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Why not both?

alt-5ad8fc71357ed
Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

No, it's not a coiffure trend

alt-5ad8d3361fb97
Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1926873504
Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz
cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
Syn City
Syn City

Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.

Play the game