legitimize
verb
le·git·i·mize
li-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz 
legitimized; legitimizing
: to make legitimate : legitimate
Examples of legitimize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gandhi called for elections in early 1977, hoping to legitimize her autocratic rule.
—
Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
From 1991 until recently, Washington had shepherded a peace process in part because U.S. leaders believed that delivering a just solution for Palestinians was essential to legitimize U.S. primacy.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024
In backing away from them, the U.S. approach now resembles those of countries like China, and risks legitimizing authoritarian practices that hurt innovation and undermine fair competition.
—Ed Brzytwa, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
But others say that this would legitimize the stronger party.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Creating buzz around recent rarities like this seems to legitimize the notion of spending well over retail for recent models at Rolex retail outlets.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
The vote was orchestrated to legitimize his leadership after a crackdown on dissent that has left his rivals dead, jailed or in exile as his war in neighboring Ukraine enters its third year.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Pictures of a mother clutching her baby, a young family cowering in a bomb shelter, and heroic Russian soldiers recall images of World War II, which Russian propagandists routinely use to legitimize the current conflict.
—Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Implying that the United States and Taiwan must shoulder the onus of assurance serves only to legitimize China’s preferred narrative that Beijing is blameless while others are responsible for damaging cross-strait relations.
—Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
From 1991 until recently, Washington had shepherded a peace process in part because U.S. leaders believed that delivering a just solution for Palestinians was essential to legitimize U.S. primacy.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024
In backing away from them, the U.S. approach now resembles those of countries like China, and risks legitimizing authoritarian practices that hurt innovation and undermine fair competition.
—Ed Brzytwa, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
But others say that this would legitimize the stronger party.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Creating buzz around recent rarities like this seems to legitimize the notion of spending well over retail for recent models at Rolex retail outlets.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
The vote was orchestrated to legitimize his leadership after a crackdown on dissent that has left his rivals dead, jailed or in exile as his war in neighboring Ukraine enters its third year.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024
Pictures of a mother clutching her baby, a young family cowering in a bomb shelter, and heroic Russian soldiers recall images of World War II, which Russian propagandists routinely use to legitimize the current conflict.
—Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Implying that the United States and Taiwan must shoulder the onus of assurance serves only to legitimize China’s preferred narrative that Beijing is blameless while others are responsible for damaging cross-strait relations.
—Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legitimize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near legitimize
Cite this Entry
“Legitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimize. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
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Legal Definition
legitimize
transitive verb
le·git·i·mize
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz
legitimized; legitimizing
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