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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sanction
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
These are tools with horizontal utility – used across functions and teams, often with little or no official sanction.
—Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 10 July 2025
While considered a remarkable feat in the NASCAR world, the race has also been an expensive proposition for the sanctioning body — more than $50 million spent for the inaugural race in 2023, with less attendance than originally hoped.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanction
Noun
As for any possible fines or sanctions on the company responsible, the EPA spokesperson said the agency cannot comment on potential or ongoing enforcement actions.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
These are tools with horizontal utility – used across functions and teams, often with little or no official sanction.
—Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
Lawyers are sanctioned for submitting motions and other court filings filled with case citations that are not real and were created by generative AI.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 10 July 2025
While considered a remarkable feat in the NASCAR world, the race has also been an expensive proposition for the sanctioning body — more than $50 million spent for the inaugural race in 2023, with less attendance than originally hoped.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanction
Noun
-
Still, many members of the church don’t want to stop attending Mass even if leaders give them permission.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
-
Reprinted with permission from Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Two sources who spoke to Reuters said the U.S. may approve $30 million per month in grants to the GHF in the future.—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
-
Burnet, Kerr, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties have been approved for FEMA's Individual Assistance program.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
In 2020, then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr authorized prosecutors to seek the death penalty against the Saenz brothers, but President Joe Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, withdrew that authorization in November 2023.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
2 July 2025
-
To get this authorization, the operator has to prove that its vehicles: Can operate while complying with state traffic laws.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
The accord of the partnership, known as the Nile Basin Initiative, came into force in October without being ratified by Egypt or Sudan.—
Samuel Getachew,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
-
After months of contract negotiations and union workers striking down a tentative agreement, workers at GE Appliances have ratified a new labor contract.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Deloitte’s Connected Consumer survey echoes the tension: Enthusiasm for generative AI co-exists with a demand for transparency, accountability and explicit consent.—
Boris Dzhingarov,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
The National Guard and the Marines have been called in without state consent.—
Larry David,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sanction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanction. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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