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
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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
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 sanctions
Philippe Welti, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026 With sanctions once again limiting access to Russian oil and Middle East disruptions squeezing supply, India’s options are narrowing. —Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026 And 73% said the communist government and its policies are more responsible for the current humanitarian and economic crisis in Cuba than econiomic sanctions imposed by the United States. —Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Eastman must also pay $5,000 in monetary sanctions. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 The White House threatened sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil in an effort to intensify a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026 The two men spoke with disdain for Europe, and Szijjártó agreed to help in removing an Uzbek-Russian oligarch’s sister from a European sanctions list. —Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026 Even if the war is over, the country's already ailing economy now faces dire trouble — though sanctions relief and compensation are also in Iran's 10-point plan. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026 The Venice Biennale said in March that no sanctions had been broken. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 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 White House, meanwhile, has offered to lift sanctions and unfreeze assets in return for various concessions. —Philippe Welti, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026 With sanctions once again limiting access to Russian oil and Middle East disruptions squeezing supply, India’s options are narrowing. —Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026 And 73% said the communist government and its policies are more responsible for the current humanitarian and economic crisis in Cuba than econiomic sanctions imposed by the United States. —Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Eastman must also pay $5,000 in monetary sanctions. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 The White House threatened sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil in an effort to intensify a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026 The two men spoke with disdain for Europe, and Szijjártó agreed to help in removing an Uzbek-Russian oligarch’s sister from a European sanctions list. —Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026 Even if the war is over, the country's already ailing economy now faces dire trouble — though sanctions relief and compensation are also in Iran's 10-point plan. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026 The Venice Biennale said in March that no sanctions had been broken. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 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
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Over time, those permissions allow companies to gather enormous amounts of behavioral data.— Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
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This includes patching existing vulnerabilities and making sure that the permissions employees have are strictly limited so they can’t be exploited.— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The bill also approves a request for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement.— JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
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Council approves the final list.— Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The House held a rare overnight voting session in hopes of advancing legislation extending foreign surveillance authorizations.— Adam Beam, AJC.com, 17 Apr. 2026
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In response, almost all insurers rationed the drug’s distribution via prior authorizations and coverage denials (a problem that persists today).— Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Others feel that the treaty effectively ratifies something that already exists.— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
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Failure to provide additional information or consents will be grounds for disqualification, unless prohibited under applicable law.— Time, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
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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
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Moreover, Emerson polling – conducted after Swalwell dropped out – largely confirms that Steyer, rather than Porter, is the most likely recipient of former Swalwell voters.— Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
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Before the vote, Speaker Joe VanDuyne, a Wilmington Democrat, said the judge’s order confirms the board’s hands are tied.— Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/sanctions. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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