as in legal
permitted by law
the mistrust created among investors by the financial scandal has hurt even companies engaged in wholly legitimate business practices
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to legitimize
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legitimate
Warren Wimmer,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
Critics argue that the unintended consequence has been a system optimized for enforcement at scale that can, at times, struggle to distinguish between bad actors and legitimate publishers.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
23 June 2026
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
22 Apr. 2026
Herman and Chomsky took this a step further in their 1988 book Manufacturing Consent, arguing that the mainstream media was unwittingly complicit in a propaganda campaign to legitimate capitalism and U.S. imperialism overseas.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimate
Adjective
The opponents are not fringe, and their concerns — higher utility bills, water draw, noise and competing land use — are legitimate, specific and grounded in how these facilities operate.
—
Warren Wimmer,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
Critics argue that the unintended consequence has been a system optimized for enforcement at scale that can, at times, struggle to distinguish between bad actors and legitimate publishers.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
23 June 2026
Verb
American history either ignores or stereotypes Indigenous peoples for the purpose of legitimating the US.
—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
22 Apr. 2026
Herman and Chomsky took this a step further in their 1988 book Manufacturing Consent, arguing that the mainstream media was unwittingly complicit in a propaganda campaign to legitimate capitalism and U.S. imperialism overseas.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimate
Adjective
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Those also include new regulations on mail-in voting that are likewise facing legal challenges.
-
Nejat received legal support from the Association of Flight Attendants, which has been trying to organize Delta’s 28,000 flight attendants for decades.
Verb
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Yet this argument requires senators to actively affirm Blanche, which would legitimize his naked corruption of the law.
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The biggest near-term catalyst for the cryptocurrency industry could be the CLARITY Act, which would lay out regulatory guidelines and help legitimize the crypto industry.
Adjective
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There was a lot of justifiable angst leading into this summer’s tournament, from ticket prices to politics to something as simple as the vibes feeling deeply off.
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While some of the public comments veer into conspiracy-territory, the vast majority surveyed by Futurism express some justifiable anxiety at the idea of a for-profit tech giant spearheading a project like this.
Verb
-
These lands have been open for leasing for many decades and this decision validates decisions made in the past.
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Recent upgrades include the Strategic Weapons Systems Ashore testing facility, which reached full operational capability in late 2024 to validate future upgrades to the Trident weapon system before fleet deployment.
Adjective
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The ordinance includes exemptions for religious practices, medical needs, workplace safety, cultural activities and other lawful uses, according to city officials.
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This allows officers to strip green-card holders’ lawful immigration status without the degree of proof required by federal law—and, perhaps, without any meaningful proof at all.
Verb
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The Iranians, however, are cashing in immediately via selling their oil, which had been sanctioned.
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As girls’ flag football surges and flag readies for a starring role at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, state officials brace for a broader debate over sanctioning boys’ flag statewide.
Verb
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For a queen mother to privilege her daughter/queen’s wishes above those of the son/king who abdicated in the night?
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Conceived as an exercise in radical reduction, the movement reflects a design philosophy that privileges essential structure over accumulation.
Verb
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So there's evidence now that there was a lot of boosterism and a lot of optimism that was not warranted.
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Those situations warrant proper clinical evaluation.
Cite this Entry
“Legitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimate. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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