as in sanctioning
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Recent Examples of legalizing
Attorney Joe Tamburino says legalizing bathhouses poses legal risks for business owners and complicates the role of law enforcement.
—
Eric Henderson, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Texas followed by legalizing hemp in 2019, allowing products that meet the THC threshold to be manufactured and sold.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Defending the gambling expansion, Rouse has typically framed legalizing new gambling machines as an important source of income for small businesses.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Multiple states have argued that legalizing and regulating sports betting is under the jurisdiction of local regulators and outside the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates event contracts and the prediction markets.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
Since legalizing online gambling in 2021, the state requires betting platforms to be licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 5 Mar. 2026
His issues page lists populist reforms like raising the minimum wage, strengthening workers’ ability to organize, and legalizing marijuana.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Our aldermen should have done this math problem before irresponsibly legalizing these licenses, but in the chaos of budget season, this slipped through.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The association, which represents casinos, including Monarch Casino in Black Hawk, conducted the poll after learning that gambling companies were interested in legalizing internet gambling — known as iGaming — in Colorado, a state in which online sports betting is popular.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Eric Henderson, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Texas followed by legalizing hemp in 2019, allowing products that meet the THC threshold to be manufactured and sold.
—Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
Defending the gambling expansion, Rouse has typically framed legalizing new gambling machines as an important source of income for small businesses.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Multiple states have argued that legalizing and regulating sports betting is under the jurisdiction of local regulators and outside the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates event contracts and the prediction markets.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
Since legalizing online gambling in 2021, the state requires betting platforms to be licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 5 Mar. 2026
His issues page lists populist reforms like raising the minimum wage, strengthening workers’ ability to organize, and legalizing marijuana.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
Our aldermen should have done this math problem before irresponsibly legalizing these licenses, but in the chaos of budget season, this slipped through.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The association, which represents casinos, including Monarch Casino in Black Hawk, conducted the poll after learning that gambling companies were interested in legalizing internet gambling — known as iGaming — in Colorado, a state in which online sports betting is popular.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizing
Verb
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The central and longest section presents the Guru’s grievances against Aurangzeb in the style of a Sufi pir (spiritual guide) addressing a deviant murid (disciple), indicting the emperor for violating the oath and sanctioning the murder of Gobind Singh’s sons.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
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The Nevada County public defender’s office and the nonprofit Civil Rights Corps asked the state appeals court to investigate the matter, and to consider sanctioning Wilson’s office for submitting the false citations.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To streamline inspections and permitting, some have even advocated for merging DSI with the city’s Department of Planning and Economic Development.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
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The law discriminates based on viewpoint, permitting expressions of acceptance and support for a client’s self-identity while forbidding expressions that attempt to change it.—
Kevin Cope,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Invite connection by allowing small gestures to nourish trust.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Right-hander Luis Garcia didn’t do his job either, allowing three runs in the top of the eighth before the Mets pulled him for left-hander Richard Lovelady.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Voters were also in favor of keeping phones out of classrooms, with 79% of respondents approving of cellphone bans in K-12 classrooms, CPI said.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The law, criticized by free speech advocates, allows a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, with the governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet approving or rejecting the designation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shifting licensing dynamic hovers as Panini will reportedly re-open the doors for a possible sale of the company.—
Larry Holder,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Off course-earnings are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearances fees and memorabilia and licensing income over the past 12 months, plus cash returns from any business in which the athlete has a significant interest.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Anthropic, whose policies bar it from enabling fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance, resisted on these points, slowing negotiations for an overhauled deal.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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That was one of the Current’s biggest departures, enabling them to pay $1 million to acquire star attacker Croix Bethune from the Washington Spirit.—
PJ Green
April 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalizing. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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