International observers warned that further sanctions would only deepen the humanitarian crisis. The proposed restrictions on food and medicine, they argued, would punish ordinary citizens far more severely than the regime they were designed to pressure.
As used in the text, what does the word "sanctions" most nearly mean?
- A
religious blessings
- Bcheck_circle
punitive measures
- C
official approvals
- D
voluntary contributions
Explanation
The observers describe restrictions designed to "pressure" a regime — the punitive sense of sanctions. Note this is opposite to the "approval" sense in the previous item; context is decisive.