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

But mismanagement, underinvestment and decades of international sanctions on the Venezuelan government contributed to the decline of the country’s oil industry. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was preparing additional sanctions against Russia, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Moscow of escalating tensions across the region. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Foreign ministers meeting in Ireland weigh fresh sanctions, visa limits and consulate closures, seeking ways to hit Russia’s war chest harder without risking direct military confrontation. — Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Huge investments are needed to extract the rich resources in Venezuela, whose oil output remains at a fraction of its capacity due to decades of mismanagement, lack of investment and sanctions. — Anniek Bao,spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

From there, the work is readiness, including custody and key-management standards, AML and sanctions controls, third-party diligence and narrow pilots with hard guardrails. — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Wong supported the effort from Hong Kong through foreign media and social media, including sharing Law’s posts, to draw foreign countries’ attention and bolster the request for sanctions, blockade or other hostile measures, the prosecution said. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Dubai's opaque financial services industry has long offered Iran a way to skirt international sanctions. — Tucker Reals, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced a plan for additional sanctions. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 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