sanctioning
Giving formal approval
Sanctioning carries two opposing meanings.
It can mean giving official approval or permission: The committee sanctioned the new policy.
But it also means imposing penalties, especially economic or diplomatic ones: The UN sanctioned the regime for human rights violations.
Context usually makes clear which is meant—approving something desirable or punishing something objectionable.
Formal permission granted
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
approval · permission · assent · certification · endorsement · accreditation · greenlight · clearance
Official prohibition on trade
- banOfficial restriction on something
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- blockadeSealing off a place
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
interdiction · veto · boycott · exclusion · quarantine · limitation · constraint · curtailment
Punishments for infractions
- finesMonetary sanctions or particles
- tariffsTaxes on imports
- embargoOfficial prohibition on trade
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
discipline · sentencing · imprisonment · probation · forfeiture · banishment · expulsion · censure
Formal recognition as valid
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- enactmentPassing into law
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
validation · promulgation · liberalization · allowance · permission · codification · formalization · institutionalization
authorization
Formal permission granted
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
confirmation · approval · permission · assent · certification · endorsement · accreditation · greenlight · clearance · blessing
embargo
Official prohibition on trade
- banOfficial restriction on something
- prohibitionAuthoritative legal ban
- blockadeSealing off a place
moratorium · interdiction · veto · boycott · exclusion · quarantine · limitation · constraint · curtailment · clampdown
penalties
Punishments for infractions
retribution · discipline · sentencing · imprisonment · probation · forfeiture · banishment · expulsion · censure · condemnation
legitimization
Formal recognition as valid
- decriminalizationEnding criminal status
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- enactmentPassing into law
ratification · validation · promulgation · liberalization · allowance · permission · codification · formalization · institutionalization · legalization
- approvalsapproved, approve, authorizing, certification, endorsing
- approvalapprove, approval rating, agree, accept, thumbs-up
- accreditingcertification, licensing, approval, endorsement, validation
- formalizingformalizing, institutionalizing, officializing, establishing, codifying
- leadershipleadership styles, leader, leadership skills, boss, leading
- encouragementencourage, encouraging, praises, hang in there, supports
sanctioningforbidding
Intimidatingly stern or hostile
prohibiting · banning · disallowing · vetoing · disapproving