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

The pending sanctions could force years of Champions League exile for the club, which is appealing. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

The requirement, intended as a safeguard against individuals who had lost access to banking services because of bilateral sanctions, has since been eliminated. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026

The bloc unveiled its largest sanctions package to date on Monday against entities accused of supporting Russia’s war efforts. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026

And just a few weeks after Trump signed a bill into law, sponsored by the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, allowing for punishing sanctions to be imposed on any country that bought Russian oil, Washington has now become a customer itself. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026

The Treasury Department temporarily waived sanctions on Russian diesel through April 2027 under a general license issued Friday. — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026

The Seattle-area activists appear undeterred by the sanctions. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026

The decline has accelerated sharply in recent weeks, since the United States ratcheted up sanctions and enforced a naval blockade. — Erika Solomon, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Zelenskyy repeated his appeal for foreign countries to close loopholes in international sanctions on Russia and to add more restrictions on its trade. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 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