APPROVED Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

approved 1 of 2

adjective

as in official

Related Words

Relevance

approved

2 of 2

verb

past tense of approve

as in ratified

to give official acceptance of as satisfactory as soon as the pond project was approved, the bulldozers were at the site

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of approved

Adjective

The goal is to ensure the identity is accurate, approved and not misleading. — Emily Burroughs, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Buying a non-approved coin or taking the metal home can trigger a taxable distribution, plus additional taxes or penalties. — USA Today, 28 July 2026 The key to ending any infectious disease outbreak, especially one for which there's no approved vaccine, like the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is getting slightly ahead of the virus. — Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 23 July 2026 Get pre-approved Equally important is getting prepared financially. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 21 July 2026 Kansas is one of 21 states that rely on governors selecting appointees from a pre-approved list of candidates screened by nominating commissions, a Star analysis found. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026 Ahead, find the five bright July nail colors that belong on your radar, with pro-approved polishes to shop. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 3 July 2026 The bill also offers money to local governments to develop pre-approved housing designs, or pattern books, which would help speed up local construction approvals. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 23 June 2026 And how about the calls about approved loans? — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026

Verb

The National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary site and building plans for the arch on July 9. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026 If approved and financed, the first ReFirm project is expected to put Sweden on a path toward its first new nuclear generation in decades, with the first BWRX-300 unit targeted for operation in the mid-2030s. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 Callaway, which approved the ad, ultimately severed its relationship with Good Good, and the brand’s apparel was pulled from the shelves of Golf Galaxy/Dick’s Sporting Goods, PGA Tour Superstore and Target. — Hugh Kellenberger, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Last week, the FDA approved the drug to treat those with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have received at least one prior systemic therapy, or cancer treatments that target the entire body. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 The deal must still be approved by the bankruptcy judge and others still have time to object. — John Magsam Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2026 The laws approved earlier this year received bipartisan support. — Des Moines Register, States Newsroom, 3 Sep. 2026 Kroenke is not expected to be approved as Moreno’s successor until early next year. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 In March, the FDA approved icotrokinra (brand name ICOTYDE), a once-daily tablet that blocks the same IL-23 pathway targeted by injectable biologics. — Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for approved

Adjective

Former employees said Monday was coincidentally the day their layoffs from the hospital became official after months of furlough.

— Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Unlike park visitors rafting on the river or camping in the canyon overnight, day hikers do not need an official permit to walk to the canyon trails.

— Michael Loria, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of official

Verb

It was ratified in 1951, six years after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died, months into his fourth term.

— Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
After more than a year and a half of negotiations, a faculty union at Baltimore City Community College has ratified its first-ever contract.

— William J. Ford, Baltimore Sun, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of ratified

Adjective

The winner of Big Break x Good Good was supposed to receive a sponsorship exemption into the November 12-15 Good Good Championship, a sanctioned PGA Tour event.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
In addition, a non-sanctioned rolling bedside table had been left in the room, possibly by a previous patient, but staff did not remove it.

— Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of sanctioned

Verb

The department later confirmed that the area was secure and that no further threat to the public remained.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Neither club had announced the deal as of early Wednesday afternoon, but multiple sources confirmed to the Miami Herald that the trade was done and Allen was headed to Chicago.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of confirmed

Verb

Members of the political organization later voted on which of these candidates would be endorsed by the group.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Many candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America have defeated more moderate Democrats in primaries this campaign cycle, and the GOP has sought to capitalize on the Democrats' leftward shift as their own brand sinks in the polls.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of endorsed

Verb

The agreement had been offered last year and accepted by the official who oversees the Pentagon's Guantanamo war court, only to be revoked last August by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin amid criticism of the deal from Republican lawmakers.

— Steve Gorman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
The sighting still needs to be accepted by the California Bird Records Committee, which reviews and confirms rare bird sightings.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of accepted

Verb

The San Diego Padres will call up top catching prospect Ethan Salas when rosters expand Tuesday, a team source told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.

— Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Cities and counties would be authorized to charge fees for the inspections under the bill.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of authorized

Browse Nearby Words

approve

approved

approved (of)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Approved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/approved. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of approved

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes