as in legal
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as in sanctioned
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Recent Examples of legalized
Mike Trautmann, Des Moines Register, 5 Mar. 2026
That’s a question that should be top of mind in Massachusetts and other states that have legalized marijuana.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Even in states that have legalized recreational use of cannabis, there have been cases of newborns being removed by CPS based solely on a mothers’ use of cannabis.
—Lauren Micalizzi, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
Now that aldermen have legalized them, the contract between Bally’s and the city will be reopened, jeopardizing a $4 million payment guaranteed to the city each year from Bally’s.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The federal government does not enforce drug laws for marijuana in the same way as other drugs, as more states have legalized the drug.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
In 2017, lawmakers passed a bill that legalized charter schools but did not provide a way to fund them.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Data shows the number of calls it’s gotten from people under the age of 21 has jumped since sports betting was legalized.
—Ashley Borja, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Those apps have age verification procedures to require users are at least the minimum age under applicable state laws, with states that have legalized sports betting setting 18 or 21 as the minimum age.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
But what's happening to Iowa education in the three years since the state legalized Education Savings Accounts to pay for students to attend private schools has, indeed, been seismic.
—Mike Trautmann, Des Moines Register, 5 Mar. 2026
That’s a question that should be top of mind in Massachusetts and other states that have legalized marijuana.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Even in states that have legalized recreational use of cannabis, there have been cases of newborns being removed by CPS based solely on a mothers’ use of cannabis.
—Lauren Micalizzi, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
Now that aldermen have legalized them, the contract between Bally’s and the city will be reopened, jeopardizing a $4 million payment guaranteed to the city each year from Bally’s.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The federal government does not enforce drug laws for marijuana in the same way as other drugs, as more states have legalized the drug.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
In 2017, lawmakers passed a bill that legalized charter schools but did not provide a way to fund them.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Data shows the number of calls it’s gotten from people under the age of 21 has jumped since sports betting was legalized.
—Ashley Borja, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Those apps have age verification procedures to require users are at least the minimum age under applicable state laws, with states that have legalized sports betting setting 18 or 21 as the minimum age.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalized
Adjective
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Glassman said the family’s legal team is looking into whether Khimberly was properly examined during her initial hospitalization.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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The legal case seeks a court order prohibiting Grammarly from using these people’s names and identities without consent.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The White House slapped 50% tariffs on Indian goods – half of them to directly punish New Delhi for its Russian oil purchases – and later sanctioned two of Russia’s largest oil firms, in a bid to choke off the Kremlin’s key source of foreign cash.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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And while China has a considerable oil stockpile, the war cuts Beijing off from Tehran’s cheap, sanctioned crude.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In the legitimate British pub downstairs, the team slings out pint after pint of perfectly creamy Guinness, the most on-trend bar order in London right now.—
Sarah Allard,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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This 4″ Mini 4G Android Smartphone is a palm-sized backup device or travel phone that actually runs a legitimate mobile OS.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Pentagon has not permitted photographers to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s last two briefings on the war in Iran, and hasn’t explained the change in long-standing policy.—
David Bauder,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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This permitted Bush to send troops into Iraq and further pursue a war that would last a decade.—
Charlie Hunt,
The Conversation,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The military will not allow a vendor to insert itself into the chain of command by restricting the lawful use of a critical capability and put our warfighters at risk.—
Matt O'Brien,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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Brian Finucane, who was attorney-adviser at the State Department from 2011 to 2021, also said the submarine attack would have been lawful if the conflict was authorized.—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police also allege that Zhang employed foreign workers who were not properly licensed as masseuses in Connecticut.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
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The company says FutureVision will eventually serve as a foundation model that can be licensed to partners building robotic hardware and software platforms.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The default ruling means that Rourke failed to take action to defend against the eviction complaint within the time allowed by law.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Only a fraction of the more than 370 protesters were allowed inside Leavenworth City Hall, where opponents of the facility packed the commission chamber and the lobby overflow room.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From 2023 to 2025, the Israeli government approved nearly seventy settlements.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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Parliament’s formal authorization on Friday came a day after lawmakers from both sides agreed that the government could sign the deals in advance, even if spending reviews were not approved in time.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalized. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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