as in sanctioning
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Recent Examples of legalizing
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
The majority of Montanans support legalizing corner crossing, highlighting the need for resolution.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Other advocates, including some from Chicago’s Northwest Side, have worried that broadly legalizing medium-sized developments could lead to existing affordable housing being transformed into more expensive units.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2026
Sports betting platforms are donating $10 million to support incumbents and candidates from both parties who support legalizing the industry in the state.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
When Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, legalizing hemp, Gordon found an additional path for the farm.
—William Deffaa, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
Lucas — a prominent backer of legalizing marijuana — has said the store sells legal hemp and CBD products.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Brian Vicente, partner at Vicente LLP, is optimistic that this week’s rescheduling is an incremental movement toward de-scheduling and maybe even legalizing marijuana altogether.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
After a rash of abandonments led to infant deaths in the late 1990s, Texas became the first in the nation to pass a state law legalizing abandonment.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The majority of Montanans support legalizing corner crossing, highlighting the need for resolution.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Other advocates, including some from Chicago’s Northwest Side, have worried that broadly legalizing medium-sized developments could lead to existing affordable housing being transformed into more expensive units.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2026
Sports betting platforms are donating $10 million to support incumbents and candidates from both parties who support legalizing the industry in the state.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
When Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, legalizing hemp, Gordon found an additional path for the farm.
—William Deffaa, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
Lucas — a prominent backer of legalizing marijuana — has said the store sells legal hemp and CBD products.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Brian Vicente, partner at Vicente LLP, is optimistic that this week’s rescheduling is an incremental movement toward de-scheduling and maybe even legalizing marijuana altogether.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
After a rash of abandonments led to infant deaths in the late 1990s, Texas became the first in the nation to pass a state law legalizing abandonment.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizing
Verb
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The safest play in college sports is to violate the NCAA rule book and then just sue should the sanctioning body dare try to punish you.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
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In February, Santiago Gallon was killed in Mexico, and news stories rehashed his role in sanctioning the hit on Escobar.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
Verb
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In other business, the council is permitting Bike the Dunes, which rents bicycles at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, to place a temporary sign advertising the business on a median at the entrance.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
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After Assembly Bill 626 was passed in the California State Assembly in 2023 permitting on-site ballot scanning for California counties, Placer County was one of just a few counties to implement the policy during the 2024 general election.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Arasheben devised a mechanism allowing the face to switch colors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
The hotel is also pet-friendly, allowing two animals of any size free of charge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Still, even with the Justice Department approving the WBD merger late last week without any concessions, the Paramount Skydance’s CEO’s happy face masked some spikey obstacles to the merger from overseas and in state houses over Ellison’s strategic bear hug with the ex-Apprentice host.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
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The judge also ruled that the board had acted unlawfully in approving a two-year closure of the institution for renovations.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Until now, Paramount’s gaming business has largely consisted of licensing IP to third parties —so the bar for a revamp wasn’t too high to clear.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
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Johnson said the city’s Regulated Industries division — which oversees licensing for businesses that serve alcohol and other adult entertainment — could not take immediate action against the club.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The company also sells a backlit keyboard for a Surface Pro-like setup, enabling laptop-style use.—
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
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But the Gulf, through sovereign capital, is enabling infrastructure expansion in both the East and the West.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalizing. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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