as in sanctioned
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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as in legal
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Recent Examples of legalized
Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Even though the case continues, immigration advocates and the attorneys who filed the lawsuit said the court’s action essentially legalized racial profiling.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
But in addition to liberalizing large-scale gold production, Ghana also legalized small-scale mining, which rose from just 5% of total output in 1991 to nearly 40% today.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
How many states have legalized weed?
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025
Recreational marijuana has not yet been legalized.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Among states that have legalized sports-bet apps, bankruptcies are up by 30,000 a year, per a USC-UCLA study still in progress.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2025
Even among states that have legalized sports betting, many—including Arizona, Louisiana and Massachusetts—require bettors to be 21, which is older than many college students.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2025
The 2018 Farm Bill, or the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, legalized industrial hemp at the federal level.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
In Marquette University Law School polling earlier this year, two-thirds of the 873 people surveyed said the drug should be legalized.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Even though the case continues, immigration advocates and the attorneys who filed the lawsuit said the court’s action essentially legalized racial profiling.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
But in addition to liberalizing large-scale gold production, Ghana also legalized small-scale mining, which rose from just 5% of total output in 1991 to nearly 40% today.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
How many states have legalized weed?
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025
Recreational marijuana has not yet been legalized.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Among states that have legalized sports-bet apps, bankruptcies are up by 30,000 a year, per a USC-UCLA study still in progress.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2025
Even among states that have legalized sports betting, many—including Arizona, Louisiana and Massachusetts—require bettors to be 21, which is older than many college students.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2025
The 2018 Farm Bill, or the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, legalized industrial hemp at the federal level.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalized
Verb
-
The two companies being sanctioned are Rosneft and Lukoil and some of their subsidiaries, the statement said.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Britain sanctioned both companies last week.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These exemptions generally cover urgent humanitarian or legal circumstances.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
So far, European countries have used the profits generated by such assets to financially aid Kyiv, but some countries have been concerned about further measures due to potential financial and legal issues.—
Silvia Amaro,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Almost none of the refugees had been permitted to read or write on the plantation, and thus the precise nuance of their feelings is lost to time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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While matchbooks were once a great marketing tool, with smoking rates steadily declining, and smoking no longer permitted inside most restaurants the need for everyday matches has dwindled.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Don't assume messages or calls are legitimate, especially if someone asks for a password or authentication code.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
To review or object to instances where our partners assert a legitimate interest in utilizing your data, please visit our vendors page.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Get a few bids, but don't consider any moving company that isn't licensed and insured.—
Marni Jameson,
Arkansas Online,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Rather than paying a recurring license fee, pets that are microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated for rabies are eligible to be permanently licensed for a one-time $25 fee.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This time lapse will lead to lawful citizens being identified as noncitizens, the plaintiffs argue.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Still, supporters note that her appointment was lawful and that the case remains in its pretrial stages.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In addition to murder, District Attorney Larry Krasner's office approved additional charges against Keon King, 21, who was charged during the search for Scott.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Novavax was approved for children 12 and older with an underlying condition and people over 65.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That agnostic view toward sector and location has allowed BoxGroup to build a bench of companies that is only rivaled by incubators like Y Combinator.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
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The suit blames the tool TradeDesk, which allowed resellers to track their sales, is used to mislead customers.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalized. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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