economic, financial, military, trade
civil, criminal, disciplinary
legal, penal, social
international, UN
severe, strict
punitive
effective

apply, enforce, impose, use
end, lift
call for
threaten

sanction against
The UN called for sanctions against the invading country.
There were strict sanctions against absenteeism.

sanction for
Employers imposed heavy sanctions for union activity.

the imposition of sanctions
the lifting of sanctions
a threat of sanctions

government, official
The movement was first given official sanction in the 1960s.

divine, religious

give sth
The conference gave its official sanction to the change of policy.

with sb/sth's sanction, without sb/sth's sanction
No decision can be taken without the sanction of the committee.