LEGALIZED Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

legalized 1 of 2

adjective

as in legal

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legalized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of legalize

as in sanctioned

to make (something) legal They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.

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Dissimilar Words

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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 legalized

Verb

Those groups then gave most of the funds to a political committee run by now-Attorney General James Uthmeier aimed at defeating a 2024 ballot amendment that would have legalized marijuana in Florida. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 Second is video gaming, which the City Council legalized as part of the 2026 budget. — Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Photo courtesy of Butts County Sheriff's Office Long used the seizure to urge Georgia lawmakers to carefully consider the experiences of states that have legalized marijuana. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Since 1996, 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized either medical or recreational adult-use marijuana. — Bob Woods, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026 Colorado also legalized accessory dwelling units statewide in 2024, letting homeowners build small backyard or garage apartments without needing a special hearing or approval. — Solomon Greene, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026 Yet many of these reforms merely legalized developments that had already taken place at the grassroots level. — Rainer Zitelmann, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Prosecutors said the man expressed in online chats that child rape should be legalized. — Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2026 The bill legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp (usually grown for sturdy fibers or food rather than as an intoxicant) to give farmers a new cash crop. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalized

Adjective

The whipsawing legal battle could have major ramifications for the midterms.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Below, experts provide legal advice on how to handle this situation and keep things as smooth as possible, along with simple yard cleaning tips to help keep your landscape tidy.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of legal

Verb

Fiscus declined to answer if the team sanctioned the workout.

— Katie Strang, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
On Monday, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned more than 60 new entities, individuals and vessels accused of helping Iran procure nuclear and missile technology, conduct cyber operations and generate oil revenue.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sanctioned

Adjective

Perhaps his greatest legacy at UCF is Dean was coaching in 1991 when UCF finally moved out of its tiny dank gymnasium and into its first legitimate basketball arena — a sparkling, by UCF standards, 5,100-seat facility.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Although some agencies said the officers’ Flock searches appeared to be connected to legitimate narcotics investigations or training exercises, many took swift disciplinary action.

— Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of legitimate

Adjective

Anthropic wanted assurance that its technology would not be used for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance, and the DOD wanted Anthropic to grant the agency unfettered access to Claude across all lawful purposes.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Anthropic sought to prevent Claude from being used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, but the military argued it should be allowed to use the model for all lawful purposes.

— Joe Walsh, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of lawful

Verb

Although he is licensed to practice in Florida, Tennessee and the District of Columbia, Crump often partners with local attorneys to help elevate cases across the nation.

— Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
The rails underneath Solowin's Bahrain subsidiary was licensed by that country's central bank in June to issue stablecoins, the first granted under that framework.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of licensed

Verb

Both were placed on IR-return, which allowed 23-year-old Jacob Bayer to sneak onto the roster after a fantastic camp.

— Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
In the Steelers’ first game of the 2025 season, Jones allowed three sacks on quarterback Aaron Rodgers while lined up at left tackle.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of allowed

Verb

With the rapid growth of crypto asset derivatives, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, recently approved select platforms to offer perpetual futures products.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The recent announcement also follows the prior freeze on base rates approved by the Georgia PSC in July 2025, as well as the plan approved in May 2026 to lower overall rates, as per the release.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of approved

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“Legalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalized. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of legalized

adjective

verb

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