as in to permit
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legalize
Separately, the administration swiped $35 million allocated to needy children and drug prevention to pay for efforts to kill that amendment and another legalizing marijuana.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The majority of Montanans support legalizing corner crossing, highlighting the need for resolution.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize sports betting, allowing a Chicago casino, slot machines at both city airports, casinos in the south suburbs, Waukegan, Rockford, Danville and Williamson County, slot machines at horse racing tracks and spots betting at casinos and tracks.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
In the months since, the NBA, pro sports leagues, and America have had to reckon with the risks that legalized gambling now presents.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The majority of Montanans support legalizing corner crossing, highlighting the need for resolution.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize sports betting, allowing a Chicago casino, slot machines at both city airports, casinos in the south suburbs, Waukegan, Rockford, Danville and Williamson County, slot machines at horse racing tracks and spots betting at casinos and tracks.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
In the months since, the NBA, pro sports leagues, and America have had to reckon with the risks that legalized gambling now presents.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalize
Verb
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The park said all guests must also pass through a weapons detection system at the front gate during the summer, and only bags 15 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches are permitted — with exceptions for medical and diaper bags.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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Detmers permitted only one hit over seven innings.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Various members of the Castro clan were sanctioned in the latest round of designations announced by the Treasury Department June 4.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
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The Southern Poverty Law Center asked a federal judge on Wednesday to consider sanctioning federal prosecutors, after the Justice Department shared an unsigned and unstamped copy of a superseding indictment against the nonprofit with members of the media.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Arasheben devised a mechanism allowing the face to switch colors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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However, properties that pre-dated the park, like Playa Cativo—which was originally a family-run farm—were allowed to continue operating under private ownership.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The plan still needs to be voted on and approved in the fall.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 June 2026
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Ohio lawmakers approved an $875 million payment package Wednesday after the Ohio Supreme Court found the state used the wrong formula to calculate certain Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes, shortchanging providers by hundreds of millions of dollars.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Inexplicably, six Republicans in the Assembly and one in the Senate agreed to vote for AB 1768, thereby allowing many Democrats to skip the politically risky vote to enable yet another tax hike on working people.—
Susan Shelley,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
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Iturmendi believes the solid-state batteries will enable these missions on a single charge.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Until now, Paramount’s gaming business has largely consisted of licensing IP to third parties —so the bar for a revamp wasn’t too high to clear.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
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Separately, Xcel is licensed to produce an Off/Duty by Coco Rocha fashion collection that is expected to debut on QVC this fall.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalize. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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