legalize

verb

Definition of legalizenext
as in to permit
to make (something) legal They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of legalize Idaho lawmakers passed a joint resolution last year to put a constitutional amendment before voters, asking them to allow only the Legislature, not the voters, the power to legalize marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive drugs. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026 Holscher, in a video outside of a dispensary in Kansas City, made a case for legalizing marijuana for an additional source of revenue for the state, building up the local cannabis industry and for personal freedom. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026 They’ve so far been legalized in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, but not in San Francisco. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 There is no question that cannabis should be legalized by the federal government. — Peter Grinspoon, STAT, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for legalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalize
  1. permit
  2. sanction
  3. allow
  4. approve
  5. enable
  6. license
Verb
  • The structure permits that disagreement to be expressed numerically.
    — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • But under the country’s Food Sanitation Act, only 10 insect species, including grasshoppers and silkworms, are permitted for human consumption.
    — Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of permit
Verb
  • The next day, Paxton’s office wrote to the conference warning that sanctioning Tech for supporting Sorsby was against the law and would carry consequences.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2026
  • Entities recently sanctioned include Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism, the country’s main energy company Cupet, and GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls about 40% of the country’s economy.
    — Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of sanction
Verb
  • In Montana, Marshall Bloom, an associate director at Rocky Mountain Labs, told the Ravalli County Board of Health in a July meeting that the scientists have been suspended and aren’t allowed on campus amid an internal NIH investigation.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Charlotte Water is currently only allowed to transfer up to 33 million gallons of water daily.
    — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Definition of allow
Verb
  • The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, said the agreement would be announced Wednesday while the Wall Street Journal said Trump had now formally approved the deal.
    — Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Last year, Holscher and Corson both voted to approve a 20-year sales tax exemptions for developers who commit to investing $250 million and creating at least 20 permanent jobs.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of approve
Verb
  • Launched last year, Cascade has already enabled clients to secure significant projects, validating its approach.
    — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Some of it, though, was enabled by new-age American stadiums.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of enable
Verb
  • Contrary to Trump’s comments on Thursday night, national networks are not licensed by the government, but local stations are.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Numerous press reports in recent months have speculated that the company could license third-party programming or use its existing library to launch FAST channels, which could potentially boost advertising revenue and subscriber levels.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 July 2026
Definition of license

Browse Nearby Words

legalizations
legalize
legalized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalize. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on legalize

Nglish: Translation of legalize for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All