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
Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2023, the crypto exchange Binance pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering and know-your-customer laws as well as sanctions violations.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The move expands authorized activities in Venezuela’s oil sector and reflects a broader recalibration of sanctions policy.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Her analysis further suggests that a sanctions-relief agreement that leaves Iran’s broader capabilities intact could stabilize the regime at a moment of internal pressure while preserving its military leverage.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
An appeals court decision upheld those sanctions.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Universities whose students demonstrated against the war have been subject to sweeping government investigations and sanctions justified as efforts against hate speech.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The United Nations imposed sanctions on Seif al-Islam that included a travel ban and an assets freeze for his inflammatory public statements encouraging violence against anti-Gadhafi protesters during the 2011 uprising.
—Yousef Murad, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Soon after the Oman talks concluded, the State Department imposed sanctions to target a web of shipping companies, vessel operators, and tankers used to transport Iranian oil products abroad while masking the origin.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 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
Jim Risch, the Republican chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the Ugandan president’s son, “crossed a red line� with the posts and called for the US to reevaluate military ties with and sanctions against Uganda.
—Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2023, the crypto exchange Binance pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering and know-your-customer laws as well as sanctions violations.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The move expands authorized activities in Venezuela’s oil sector and reflects a broader recalibration of sanctions policy.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Her analysis further suggests that a sanctions-relief agreement that leaves Iran’s broader capabilities intact could stabilize the regime at a moment of internal pressure while preserving its military leverage.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
An appeals court decision upheld those sanctions.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Universities whose students demonstrated against the war have been subject to sweeping government investigations and sanctions justified as efforts against hate speech.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The United Nations imposed sanctions on Seif al-Islam that included a travel ban and an assets freeze for his inflammatory public statements encouraging violence against anti-Gadhafi protesters during the 2011 uprising.
—Yousef Murad, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Soon after the Oman talks concluded, the State Department imposed sanctions to target a web of shipping companies, vessel operators, and tankers used to transport Iranian oil products abroad while masking the origin.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 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
-
Remove permissions that are not essential.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Put medical and caregiving permissions in writing where your emergency contact can find them.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Samantha Brown also approves of this method.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Who within the district — executive director, deputy chief of operations or another administrator — approves a purchase depends on the amount.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Difficult or impossible claim process Pre-authorizations, limited repair-shop options, and long wait times are tactics often used to make the claims process feel impossible or to discourage them altogether.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Matt Faustman is the co-founder and CEO of Honey Health, a company that develops AI tools designed to automate tasks for providers — including managing fax inboxes, processing prior authorizations and retrieving patient records.—
Windsor Johnston,
NPR,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Deal to cut tariffs and ease regulatory barriers A formal signing of the deal could come later this year after officials go through the legal details of the text and the EU Parliament ratifies it.—
Rajesh Roy,
Fortune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
That most of the general population will raise no objections further ratifies that dismal conclusion.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Failure to provide additional information or consents will be grounds for disqualification, unless prohibited under applicable law.—
Time,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Before allowing the use of advertising pixels, cookies or other tracking tools, businesses should investigate what those technologies collect, how that data will be used and what disclosures or consents are required.—
Jodi Daniels,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Replying confirms your number is active, while clicking anything can lead to fake login pages, follow-up scams or malware.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
And the contamination, new research confirms, lingers.—
Rachel Becker,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctions. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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