English Thesaurus

Synonyms for “sanction”

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sanction

verb

  1. =  permit, back, support, allow, approve, entitle, endorse, authorize, countenance, vouch for, lend your name to • He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
    opposites: refuse, ban, veto, forbid, reject, boycott, disallow
  2. =  punish, discipline, penalize, chastise, bring to book, slap someone's wrist, throw the book at, rap someone's knuckles • failure to sanction countries for butchering whales
  3. =  confirm, warrant, ratify

noun

  1. (often plural) =  ban, restriction, boycott, embargo, exclusion, penalty, deterrent, prohibition, coercive measures • He expressed his opposition to lifting the sanctions.
    opposites: authority, licence, approval, permission, authorization, dispensation, approbation
  2. =  permission, backing, support, authority, approval, allowance, confirmation, endorsement, countenance, ratification, authorization, approbation, O.K. or okay (informal), stamp or seal of approval • The king could not enact laws without the sanction of parliament.
    opposites: ban, veto, refusal, embargo, prohibition, disapproval, proscription

'sanction' in Other Languages

  • British English: sanction If someone in authority sanctions an action or practice, they officially approve of it and allow it to be done. VERBHe may now be ready to sanction the use of force.
  • Brazilian Portuguese: sancionar
  • Chinese: 批准
  • European Spanish: sancionar
  • French: cautionner
  • German: sanktionieren
  • Italian: sancire
  • Japanese: 認可する
  • Korean: 승인하다
  • Portuguese: sancionar
  • Spanish: sancionar

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