LEGALIZING Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

legalizing

verb

present participle of legalize

as in sanctioning

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

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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 legalizing The findings come as more states are legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use. — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 Holscher, in a video outside of a dispensary in Kansas City, made a case for legalizing marijuana for an additional source of revenue for the state, building up the local cannabis industry and for personal freedom. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026 Research suggests that policies legalizing bodily surveillance are not a positive influence for any child in youth sports. — Megan Gandy, The Conversation, 1 July 2026 The City Council approved legalizing VGTs as part of its late 2025 budget. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 25 June 2026 The city of Sacramento took its next step toward legalizing cannabis consumption lounges as a part of a five-year pilot program, but local tokers won’t be able to visit such a space for a while. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026 Continue reading … SAFE SPACES — Minneapolis city council hear arguments in favor of legalizing adult bathhouses for LGBTQ community. — FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 In exchange for legalizing sports betting, Colorado voters agreed that sportsbooks should be taxed at a 10% rate to fund water conservation. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 June 2026 Separately, the administration swiped $35 million allocated to needy children and drug prevention to pay for efforts to kill that amendment and another legalizing marijuana. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizing

Verb

When the pandemic disrupted NASCAR's plans for the debut of the Next Gen car, the sanctioning body moved the 2021 Clash to Daytona's road course, citing both logistics and cost savings for teams.

— Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
At the same time, though, the sanctioning body will also A) fine drivers for this behavior, B) dock them points, C) sometimes suspend them, and D) discourage it entirely on the track.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of sanctioning

Verb

The 42-year-old righty has allowed nine homers in eight starts this season, permitting at least one in five turns and coughing up multiple home runs in three.

— Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Hawley said the Illinois Film Office leaves permitting to municipalities or regional offices, like ones in the Quad Cities or Champaign County.

— Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of permitting

Verb

Taillon has coughed up 25 home runs in 15 starts this season, allowing five in his previous two starts, ceding at least one in 12 turns and permitting multiple blasts in eight starts.

— Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Peralta lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs and nine hits.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of allowing

Verb

Published in June, the authority’s plan, to which the public has until Sunday to respond, is laid out in its draft statement of licensing policy.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
By licensing both the reactor design and the fuel factory together, the company hopes to create a complete domestic fuel loop inside North America.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of licensing

Verb

This data empowers stronger salary negotiations, enabling employees to support their requests with market evidence and demonstrated impact.

— Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
In addition to clearing the deal, culture secretary Nandy has ditched plans to bring forward secondary legislation enabling Ofcom to examine how the Paramount-WBD deal would impact streaming services.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of enabling

Browse Nearby Words

legalizes

legalizing

legally

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Legalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalizing. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of legalizing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on legalizing

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes