as in sanctioning
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Recent Examples of legalizing
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
In a time of great financial instability and uncertainty for our city, legalizing unregulated video gambling terminals will only worsen our problems.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Which Mayor Johnson had backed a corporate head tax, his opponents' budget relied on an increase in the city's plastic bag tax, overhauling the tax on off-premise liquor sales; legalizing video gambling terminals in Chicago, and opening up new advertising opportunities.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 26 Feb. 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
Supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana in Hawaii say a regulated market for adults will improve consumer safety, create new economic opportunities and reduce crime.
—A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Abe newly interpreted Article 9 as legalizing collective defense.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
It’s been a long wait for sports fans in the state, with many of the surrounding states legalizing betting apps years ago.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government's work on pushing through a bill legalizing same-sex unions has been held back by resistance from his conservative coalition partner.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
In a time of great financial instability and uncertainty for our city, legalizing unregulated video gambling terminals will only worsen our problems.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Which Mayor Johnson had backed a corporate head tax, his opponents' budget relied on an increase in the city's plastic bag tax, overhauling the tax on off-premise liquor sales; legalizing video gambling terminals in Chicago, and opening up new advertising opportunities.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 26 Feb. 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
Supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana in Hawaii say a regulated market for adults will improve consumer safety, create new economic opportunities and reduce crime.
—A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Abe newly interpreted Article 9 as legalizing collective defense.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
It’s been a long wait for sports fans in the state, with many of the surrounding states legalizing betting apps years ago.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government's work on pushing through a bill legalizing same-sex unions has been held back by resistance from his conservative coalition partner.
—Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizing
Verb
-
By sanctioning an unlawful deal, the government has created a legal impediment to petitioners' financial recovery.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Sulaiman defended the current system in the sport, which sees fighters pay fees to fight for world titles under each sanctioning body.—
Chris McKenna,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Nearby cities including Vacaville, Woodland, Sacramento, Dixon and West Sacramento offer more developable land and often faster permitting processes, the report states.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In design, engineering, pre-construction, and manufacturing, there are specs, there are permitting codes, there are ordinances, and there’s disconnect between the disciplines, so the context is incredibly complicated.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As more observations are collected, those uncertainties shrink, allowing scientists to better understand the object’s true path through space.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Iran has a large Azeri population and Tehran has accused Baku of allowing Israeli intelligence to operate from there.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday, the City Council is scheduled to take the key step of cementing city ownership by approving payouts to the county and some other local agencies — school districts, community college districts and health districts — that have a financial interest in Liberty Station.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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My hostess stands in the middle of her guests and offers me the slightest of nods, the quick upward pull of an approving smile.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company’s greater value proposition was looking forward, as AllHere was to manage, moderate and continue to develop Ed — and partner with LAUSD in marketing and licensing the product to other school systems.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
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BrokerCheck will show you a broker’s employment history, licensing information, and any regulatory actions, arbitrations, or customer complaints.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By enabling machines to create and verify their own records at the point of operation, the technology offers a new method for ensuring the reliability and accountability of autonomous systems.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
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Historically, the mismatch was addressed through education, which improved with each generation, enabling workers to work with new innovation.—
Allison Schrager,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalizing. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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