SANCTION Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'sanction' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sanction are accredit , approve , certify , and endorse . While all these words mean "to have or express a favorable opinion of," sanction implies both approval and authorization. // the President sanctioned covert operations

Q: How do 'accredit' and 'certify' relate to one another, in the sense of 'sanction'?

Both 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

Q: In what contexts can 'approve' take the place of 'sanction'?

While the synonyms approve and sanction are close in meaning, approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration. // the parents approve of the marriage

Q: When would 'endorse' be a good substitute for 'sanction'?

The synonyms endorse and sanction are sometimes interchangeable, but endorse suggests an explicit statement of support. // publicly endorsed her for Senator

sanction 1 of 2

noun

ˈsaŋ(k)-shən

Definition of sanction next

as in permission

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

sanction

2 of 2

verb

as in to approve

to give official acceptance of as satisfactory the administration will sanction almost any field trip with educational value

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb sanction differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sanction are accredit, approve, certify, and endorse. While all these words mean "to have or express a favorable opinion of," sanction implies both approval and authorization.

the President sanctioned covert operations

How do accredit and certify relate to one another, in the sense of sanction?

Both 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

In what contexts can approve take the place of sanction?

While the synonyms approve and sanction are close in meaning, approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration.

the parents approve of the marriage

When would endorse be a good substitute for sanction?

The synonyms endorse and sanction are sometimes interchangeable, but endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.

publicly endorsed her for Senator

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sanction

Noun

Trump's threat to impose tariffs and other sanctions on Colombia after the Latin American country refused to accept two deportation flights from the U.S. briefly ignited fears of a further surge in already high coffee prices, Axios' Ben Berkowitz notes. —

Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 26 Jan. 2025 While announcing that his administration will also impose banking and financial sanctions on Colombia, Trump warned even harsher sanctions could follow. —

Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025

Verb

The judge held Giuliani in contempt the week before last and sanctioned him for failing to turn over relevant documentation on time. —

Molly Crane Newman, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025 Four ranchers were sanctioned with fines after investigations. —

Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for sanction

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction

Noun

Ukraine now has permission to use the American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles against military targets in Russia.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
Law enforcement only has permission to access two other online databases: GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA.

— Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Jan. 2025