as in to outlaw
to make or declare contrary to the law
a bill that would illegalize the private use of fireworks
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Recent Examples of illegalize
Basis for the suit to illegalize the union, lawyers explained, is the difference in race between the participants.
—
sandiegouniontribune.com, 28 Feb. 2018
Rather than negotiating a political agreement, Madrid decided to illegalize Basque political parties allegedly linked with terrorism and to prosecute their leaders.
—Sergi Pardos-Prado, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2017
The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, a bill focused on illegalizing any conversion therapy that charges money, was filed in the U.S. Senate in April.
—Joseph Frankel, The Atlantic, 10 July 2017
sandiegouniontribune.com, 28 Feb. 2018
Rather than negotiating a political agreement, Madrid decided to illegalize Basque political parties allegedly linked with terrorism and to prosecute their leaders.
—Sergi Pardos-Prado, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2017
The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, a bill focused on illegalizing any conversion therapy that charges money, was filed in the U.S. Senate in April.
—Joseph Frankel, The Atlantic, 10 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegalize
Verb
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In its current form, the proposal would outlaw the sale, barter, or trade of wildlife furs and furbearer parts statewide.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
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In 1875 Congress passed a civil rights act outlawing racial discrimination, but in 1883 the US Supreme Court invalidated the law.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The directive banned local law enforcement from acting on warrants of removal and prohibited ICE agents from accessing Fairfax County police buildings.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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When the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Kyiv banned weapons exports.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illegalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegalize. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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