All 8 Uses of

sanction
in
The Brothers Karamazov

Grigory Vassilyevitch blames me for rebelling against my birth, but I would have sanctioned their killing me before I was born that I might not have come into the world at all.†
Chpt 5

To be sure you were, and by your consent you silently sanctioned my doing it.†
Chpt 11

The visits of relations and friends were informally sanctioned by the doctor and overseer, and even by the police captain.†
Chpt Epil. *

Did we not love mankind, so meekly acknowledging their feebleness, lovingly lightening their burden, and permitting their weak nature even sin with our sanction?†
Chpt 5

That's all very charming; but if you want to swindle why do you want a moral sanction for doing it?†
Chpt 11

But you must generously allow it, if your sanction is so necessary," Katya added viciously.†
Chpt Epil.

Definitions:

(1) (sanction as in: cannot sanction such behavior)
formal approval

Ironically, this word has contradictory meanings that are frequently used. When selecting words for an audience who may not be sure of this word's contextual meaning, consider substituting a word like endorse for this sense of sanction.
(2) (sanction as in: sanctions against them)
formal penalty

This word has contradictory meanings that are frequently used. When selecting words for an audience who may not be sure of this word's contextual meaning, consider substituting words like penalize for this sense of sanction.