delegitimize

verb

de·​le·​git·​i·​mize ˌdē-lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz How to pronounce delegitimize (audio)
delegitimized; delegitimizing; delegitimizes

transitive verb

: to diminish or destroy the legitimacy, prestige, or authority of
delegitimize a government
delegitimization noun

Examples of delegitimize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Recommended State of the Union: Biden in full campaign mode The incident appeared to confirm what Palestinians in Gaza already knew or believed: Any Israeli involvement would delegitimize and kill any alternative group providing services in Gaza. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024 By delegitimizing Israeli Arabs’ concerns, the demonstrators played right into Netanyahu’s strategy. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024 Amber, for instance, is ethnically Nepali (Bhutan has a history of delegitimizing Lhotshampa Nepali people), and his sense of belonging is dependent not only on a cultural notion of contentment, but on politics and paperwork. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024 Lawyers for the City of Detroit, which was awarded legal fees for having to defend itself against the election fraud allegations, said the suit was part of a broader effort to delegitimize the election results and prevent the peaceful transition of power. USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 For them, it is meant not to condemn or delegitimize, but to illuminate similarities and differences across a wide range of societies, past and present. Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2024 Instead, his actions are putting members of Congress, staff, the press and all visitors to the Capitol at risk and further delegitimizing the integrity of this institution. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2023 Unlike misinformation, which may be shared unwittingly or with good intentions, disinformation aims to foment distrust, destabilize institutions, discredit good intentions, defame opponents and delegitimize sources of knowledge such as science and journalism. H. Colleen Sinclair, The Conversation, 7 Dec. 2023 More recently, officials have sought to delegitimize the agency and have proposed dismantling it altogether. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'delegitimize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of delegitimize was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near delegitimize

Cite this Entry

“Delegitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delegitimize. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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