sanctioned
Given the greenlight
Sanctioned carries opposite meanings depending on context.
To sanction something is to officially approve or authorize it: The board sanctioned the new policy.
But sanctions (usually plural) are penalties imposed to punish or coerce, especially in international relations: economic sanctions against the regime.
A sanctioned country or individual is one facing such penalties.
The ambiguity rarely causes confusion—context makes clear whether approval or punishment is meant.
Given official permission
- ratifiedFormally approved, made official
- validatedConfirmed as true or acceptable
- certifiedOfficially declared valid
- accreditedOfficially authorized or recognized
endorsed · permitted · allowed · licensed · recognized · legitimized · upheld · granted
Penalized for misbehavior
- disciplinedHaving strict self-control
- finedPenalized with payment
- censuredFormally disapproved of
- reprimandedOfficially expressed disapproval
penalized · condemned · admonished · chastised · rebuked · cited · prosecuted · convicted
Limited in scope
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- embargoedProhibited from export
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
barred · blacklisted · boycotted · frozen · interdicted · excluded · isolated · quarantined
authorized
Given official permission
- ratifiedFormally approved, made official
- validatedConfirmed as true or acceptable
- certifiedOfficially declared valid
accredited · endorsed · permitted · allowed · licensed · recognized · legitimized · upheld · granted · acknowledged
punished
Penalized for misbehavior
- disciplinedHaving strict self-control
- finedPenalized with payment
- censuredFormally disapproved of
reprimanded · penalized · condemned · admonished · chastised · rebuked · cited · prosecuted · convicted · sentenced
restricted
Limited in scope
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- embargoedProhibited from export
blocked · barred · blacklisted · boycotted · frozen · interdicted · excluded · isolated · quarantined · constrained
- agreement wordsyes, okay, agree, agreed, accord
- establishedestablished, recognized, accepted, acknowledged, confirmed
- legitimacylegal, validity, legitimate, lawfulness, lawful
- recommendationsadvised, recommendation engine, Netflix, Spotify, Amazon
- trade statusapproved, authorized, banned, certified, cleared
- classificationsclassified, hierarchical, class, unclassified, categorical
sanctionedunauthorized
Not officially permitted
unauthorised · unsanctioned · forbidden · banned · prohibited
sanctionedillegitimate
Not authorized or recognized
unofficial · unorthodox · irregular · improper · invalid
sanctionedpermitted
Granted leave to proceed
allowed · unrestricted · unpenalized · unsanctioned · free
- economic sanctionPunitive limits on commerce
- trade sanctionsRestrictions on international commerce
- financial sanctionsPunitive limits on transactions
- international sanctionsPunitive measures between countries
- oil sanctionsTrade restrictions on petroleum
- sanctions evasionAvoiding imposed trade restrictions