Synonyms of sanction
26 similar words · 6 opposite words
Another word for sanction is consent. Other synonyms of sanction are authorization, punishment, approbation, correction and proscription. The opposite of sanction is allowance.
Synonyms and similar words for sanction
nounAn approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.
- approbationThe act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval...
- consentVoluntary agreement or permission.
- accedenceThe act of acceding.
- accession
- approval
- assent
- authorizationAn act of authorizing.
- OK
- allowance obsoletePermission; granting, conceding, or admitting.
- assentment obsoleteAssent; agreement.
nounA penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one...
- correctionPunishment that is intended to rehabilitate an offender.
- punishmentA penalty to punish wrongdoing, especially for crime.
- boycottThe act of boycotting.
- embargo
- censureA judicial or ecclesiastical sentence or reprimand; condemnatory judgment.
- disciplineA punishment to train or maintain control.
- penalty
- sentence
- punition obsoletePunishment.
nounMore synonyms
- ban
- estoppelA legal principle in the law of equity that prevents a party from asserting otherwise valid legal rights against...
- injunction
- interdiction
- penaltiesA penalty shootout.
- proscriptionA prohibition.
- taboo
Opposite of sanction
nounMore antonyms
- permission
- endorsement
- support
- confirmation
- allowancePermission; granting, conceding, or admitting.
- backing
Meaning of sanction
- noun An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.
- noun A penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body.
- noun A law, treaty, or contract, or a clause within a law, treaty, or contract, specifying any of the above.
sanction in other languages
Questions about synonyms of sanction
- What is another word for sanction?
- Sanction has 26 synonyms on Word.ws, such as consent, authorization, punishment, approbation, correction, proscription, censure and discipline.
- What is the opposite of sanction?
- The opposite of sanction is allowance. Other antonyms of sanction are support.
- What does sanction mean?
- Sanction means an approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: sanction (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of sanction.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/sanction. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.