as in sanctioning
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Recent Examples of legalizing
In addition, a 2021 study by the state’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, the legislature’s bipartisan fiscal arm, indicated that legalizing iGaming could lead to the cannibalization of revenues at casinos and bars with video poker.
—
Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
An impact study released before the November election estimated that legalizing liquor sales would add 114 jobs in Burleson and boost the city’s annual tax revenue by approximately $253,961.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2025
Cartels will only be put out of business by legalizing drugs and immigration, not by declaring war on them.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
But more than two-thirds of residents support legalizing medical marijuana, according to a poll commissioned by the Statesman.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 19 Mar. 2025
The same year, a poll commissioned by the Idaho Statesman found that more than two-thirds of Idaho residents favored legalizing medical marijuana.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2025
They could and should be put out of business by legalizing drugs.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Iowa lawmakers are once again looking at expanding the state's medical cannabis program by legalizing cannabis buds.
—Linh Ta, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
The global cannabis market is poised for significant transformation in 2025, as more countries inch closer to legalizing cannabis for medical, recreational, or industrial purposes.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
An impact study released before the November election estimated that legalizing liquor sales would add 114 jobs in Burleson and boost the city’s annual tax revenue by approximately $253,961.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2025
Cartels will only be put out of business by legalizing drugs and immigration, not by declaring war on them.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
But more than two-thirds of residents support legalizing medical marijuana, according to a poll commissioned by the Statesman.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 19 Mar. 2025
The same year, a poll commissioned by the Idaho Statesman found that more than two-thirds of Idaho residents favored legalizing medical marijuana.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2025
They could and should be put out of business by legalizing drugs.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Iowa lawmakers are once again looking at expanding the state's medical cannabis program by legalizing cannabis buds.
—Linh Ta, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
The global cannabis market is poised for significant transformation in 2025, as more countries inch closer to legalizing cannabis for medical, recreational, or industrial purposes.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizing
Verb
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The four-belt era in boxing began in 2007 when the World Boxing Organization (WBO) became the fourth major sanctioning body.—
Eduardo Tansley,
The Athletic,
20 Dec. 2024
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Nascar traditionally held single-car, single-lap qualifying until the mid-2000s, when the sanctioning body believed changing the format would boost TV ratings for qualifying.—
Joseph Wolkin,
Forbes,
12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Listen to this article The usual sales pitch for working from home has been that the job can get done just as effectively outside the office, boosting morale and allowing employees to manage other commitments while meeting and even exceeding their professional responsibilities.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
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The first came from a wide free kick, which Spurs dealt with ineffectively, allowing Rayan Ait-Nouri an uncontested volley from the edge of the box.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Dating back to Harry Truman’s administration, every other president started their term with a majority of the country approving of their performance in Gallup polling.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
15 Mar. 2025
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The Quinnipiac poll also showed that 56 percent of voters disapprove of pausing all military aid to Ukraine, with 70 percent of Republicans approving of such a move.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The club wisely played the long game, enabling us to compete in a changing financial landscape.—
James McNicholas,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
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The rise of swarm intelligence in manufacturing Swarm Intelligence, inspired by collective behaviors in nature, is now being applied to robotics, enabling multiple humanoid robots to collaborate seamlessly on complex tasks.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalizing. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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