delegitimize

verb

de·​le·​git·​i·​mize ˌdē-lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz 

delegitimized; delegitimizing; delegitimizes

transitive verb

: to diminish or destroy the legitimacy, prestige, or authority of

delegitimize a government

delegitimization

ˌdē-lə-ˌji-tə-mə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Examples of delegitimize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The leftist candidate, Eduardo del Castillo of the MAS party (Movement for Socialism), received only 3.2% of the vote, and an insurgent campaign by longtime President Evo Morales to have people cast invalid ballots to delegitimize the process fell flat. —Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Censoring or delegitimizing questions considered 'uncomfortable' does not fall within the practice of democracy. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025

Trump and his cronies have pulled out all the stops — short of arrests — to neuter and delegitimize legitimate journalism. —Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Advertisement For more than a century, demonizing opponents has been useful for delegitimizing threats and justifying exceptional actions in foreign lands. —Time, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for delegitimize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize