The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - sanctionn.

1) confirmation, ratification, secondment, authorization, legalization, legitimatization or legitimization, validation, licence, certification, approval, permission, imprimatur, seal or stamp (of approval) , signet: If you get the sanction of the rest of the members, then I shall agree. 2) help, aid, encouragement, support, advocacy, backing, sponsorship, favour, countenance: You will need the sanction of the entire committee in order to win a vote of confidence. 3) agreement, concurrence, acceptance, affirmation, assent, acquiescence, compliance, approval, OK or okay: He would never have proceeded with the invasion without the sanction of his generals. 4) ban, penalty, punishment, retribution, discipline, retaliation, redress: The government decided to introduce sanctions against the regime on account of their atrocious record on human rights. --v. 5) confirm, ratify, second, authorize, legalize, legitimatize or legitimize, validate, license, certify, approve, permit, allow, notarize, vouchsafe, subscribe to, commission, consent to: If the board sanctions the purchase of the company, it is then up to the shareholders to vote. 6) support, encourage, advocate, back, sponsor, favour, countenance, help: You know I cannot be seen to sanction your plan in preference to others.