legalize

verb

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

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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 In 2022, Propositions 26 and 27 both aimed to legalize sports-betting in the state but disagreed on how to implement it and how the revenue stemming from the new industry would be used. — Grace Hase, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Canada legalized medical aid in dying (MAID) outright in 2016. — Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026 In 1965, birth control was legalized, but only for married couples. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 More states have legalized recreational marijuana, making the drug more widely available. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 1 Aug. 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
  • In addition to the above costs, the controller said the proposal would require a coastal development permit, which may require studies or permit conditions.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Under national rules, farmers in the Amazon must preserve 80% of their land and may legally clear the remaining 20%, while the moratorium bans any deforestation, even when permitted by law.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of permit
Verb
  • The plan would sanction top Russian leaders and introduce harsh new penalties on nations that purchase oil and natural gas from Russia.
    — Claudia Grisales, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But what of developers who cannot verify themselves, such as those in countries sanctioned by the US Government?
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of sanction
Verb
  • Whisenhunt had struggled in his last three starts leading up to Tuesday, allowing 14 earned runs and walking nine batters over his last 11 2/3 innings.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers in South Korea have recently developed a novel 3D printing method that allows soft actuators made from a single material to stretch or contract when exposed to heat.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of allow
Verb
  • An initial compensation of 1 million baht (about $30,166) has been approved for six of the deceased victims, the statement said.
    — Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But while the new senator has championed some of her brother's priorities, like a Russia sanctions bill the Senate approved last week, she's also attempted to chart her own path.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of approve
Verb
  • The kind of research that AI might enable carries a lot of promise.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026
  • His focus is on creating tangible value for customers by enabling data centers around the world to better plan, design, build, operate and scale their facilities.
    — Ciaran Flanagan, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of enable
Verb
  • Robinhood's Rothera rollout Robinhood launched Rothera in June, an exchange that's licensed with the CFTC and managed through the brokerage's joint venture with Susquehanna International Group.
    — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Designed to solve dorm room console storage struggles, this officially licensed 5TB Seagate Game Drive lets gamers vault their entire library without deleting titles.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 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 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of legalize for Spanish Speakers

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