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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in approves
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory
the administration will sanction almost any field trip with educational value
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sanctions
Ingrid A. Nelson, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
The State Department and the Treasury Department both announced new sanctions on Iran’s oil trade yesterday despite ongoing negotiations to reach a deal to end the conflict.
—Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 29 May 2026
The incursion underscores a growing pattern of Russian and Ukrainian drones straying into Eastern Europe, raising questions about air defenses as NATO and EU leaders condemn Moscow and weigh further sanctions.
—Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
In return, the United States would end a blockade of Iranian ports and waive some sanctions on oil sales.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Von der Leyen added that the EU was preparing a 21st package of sanctions on Russia.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Diplomats maintained a push for peace, with Iranian and Pakistani officials in Qatar for talks, but Washington and Tehran remain far apart on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and US sanctions.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
The filing was a precursor to what will surely be a defense request for sanctions, which could range from financial reimbursement for their clients’ legal fees and potentially against the individual prosecutors in the case.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
So on May 8, the department referred the case to the division of administrative hearings, where a judge can help sort out what happened and weigh in on what sanctions, if any, should be levied against her.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
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
Noun
The idea that one wrong word or departure from campus orthodoxy could yield outsize punishments and social sanctions.
—Ingrid A. Nelson, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
The State Department and the Treasury Department both announced new sanctions on Iran’s oil trade yesterday despite ongoing negotiations to reach a deal to end the conflict.
—Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 29 May 2026
The incursion underscores a growing pattern of Russian and Ukrainian drones straying into Eastern Europe, raising questions about air defenses as NATO and EU leaders condemn Moscow and weigh further sanctions.
—Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
In return, the United States would end a blockade of Iranian ports and waive some sanctions on oil sales.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Von der Leyen added that the EU was preparing a 21st package of sanctions on Russia.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Diplomats maintained a push for peace, with Iranian and Pakistani officials in Qatar for talks, but Washington and Tehran remain far apart on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and US sanctions.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
The filing was a precursor to what will surely be a defense request for sanctions, which could range from financial reimbursement for their clients’ legal fees and potentially against the individual prosecutors in the case.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
So on May 8, the department referred the case to the division of administrative hearings, where a judge can help sort out what happened and weigh in on what sanctions, if any, should be levied against her.
—Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctions
Noun
-
Last September, after outcry from locals, members voted 4–1 to deny Related Digital the rezoning permissions required for the data center’s construction.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
-
Those machine identities inherit the human’s permissions.—
John Pritchard,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Freedom 250 has its own employees, but the foundation provides federal funds and the park service approves the events and reviews their budgets, according to the website.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Starship will not be cleared to fly again until the FAA approves SpaceX's final investigation report and corrective actions.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Historically, the back office of healthcare has been a complex choreography of coverage rules, eligibility checks, prior authorizations, discounts and payments, as well as a maze of manual processes, proprietary systems and fragmented stakeholders.—
Bill Oldham,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Large insurers such as UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente and Humana have vowed to reduce the use of prior authorizations.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The school board is scheduled to vote on the agreement during its meeting on Tuesday, but the union urged an earlier vote, saying teachers could return Monday if the board ratifies the deal by then.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Others feel that the treaty effectively ratifies something that already exists.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This means cost-sharing for stormwater improvements will continue to be structured by the 83/17 split for decades to come – unless GLWA consents to renegotiating the deal.—
Nicole Van Lier,
The Conversation,
13 May 2026
-
Failure to provide additional information or consents will be grounds for disqualification, unless prohibited under applicable law.—
Time,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
May 15, 2026The Africa CDC confirms an Ebola outbreak in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and laboratory tests confirm the outbreak is of the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The 2026 trial confirms at-home approaches deliver real results without specialized equipment.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctions. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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