Synonyms of sanctions

sanctions 1 of 2

noun

plural of sanction

as in permissions

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 & Similar Words

• permissions
• authorizations
• consents
• permits
• allowances
• licenses
• warrants
• clearances
• signatures
• green lights
• leaves
• sufferances
• agreements
• grants
• accreditations
• seals
• certifications
• concurrences
• stamps
• tolerances
• concessions
• patents
• liberties
• acceptances
• imprimaturs
• acquiescences
• tolerations
• passes
• assents
• OKs
• accords

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibitions
• proscriptions
• denials
• refusals
• revocations
• injunctions
• rejections
• interdictions
• taboos
• vetoes
• repressions
• embargoes
• exclusions
• discouragements
• suppressions
• bans
• deterrences

sanctions

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of sanction

as in approves

to give official acceptance of as satisfactory

the administration will sanction almost any field trip with educational value

Synonyms & Similar Words

• approves
• ratifies
• confirms
• endorses
• finalizes
• authorizes
• accepts
• signs
• warrants
• formalizes
• approbates
• homologates
• accredits
• acknowledges
• OKs
• affirms
• licenses
• permits
• clears
• blesses
• validates
• certifies
• signs off (on)
• sanctifies
• legalizes
• initials
• passes
• rubber-stamps
• enables
• canonizes
• allows
• reapproves

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• denies
• rejects
• declines
• vetoes
• prohibits
• disapproves
• bans
• forbids
• turns down
• disallows
• proscribes
• negatives
• enjoins
• ignores
• interdicts
• refuses
• disregards
• neglects
• overlooks
• illegalizes
• rebuffs
• spurns
• rebuts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sanctions

Noun

Trump said adding China or India to the sanctions bill hasn’t been discussed. — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 15 July 2026

In a scathing ruling this week, the federal judge wrote that the lawsuit was improper and recommended sanctions against two Justice Department attorneys who worked on the case, though not Blanche himself. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Trump signed in May 2026 targeting those responsible for repression in Cuba, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has steadily widened the sanctions list to target the government’s main sources of revenue. — Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Iran has long relied on a shadow fleet of oil tankers to evade US sanctions, selling most of its oil to China. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

The top five importers of Russian crude oil will be sanctioned under the bill at a tariff rate of up to 100%, and the top five importers of its natural gas will also be subject to sanctions. — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 14 July 2026

As Trump confronts Iran war tensions at the NATO summit in Turkey, he is also set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is expected to press for more sanctions on Russia and speedier access to American defense systems. — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026

The sanctions also implemented high import tariffs on luxury goods like artworks and vodka. — News Desk, Artforum, 8 July 2026

Trump added that the US plans to lift sanctions on Türkiye that were imposed in 2020 as a result of its acquisition of the Russian system. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 8 July 2026

Verb

The bill sanctions Russian financial institutions and its largest state energy projects while targeting Russian partners in the oil and natural gas trade. — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 14 July 2026

For starters the World Cup is run by the same organization, FIFA, which sanctions virtually every level of soccer globally, from the men’s and women’s World Cups, to confederation competitions including the UEFA Championships and the Copa América, to most major age-group tournaments. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

An autocratic government that sanctions violence. — Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026

But some agricultural organizations that represent them have stressed their businesses will be hurt too if the US sanctions South Africa. — Kate Bartlett, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025

God never sanctions cruelty; love that harms is not love at all. — Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025