as in authorized
to make something real, accepted, or official
slang words legitimized by usage
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Recent Examples of legitimized
Trump signed the Genius Act in July, legislation that legitimized the technology.
—
Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
In many ways, your involvement as an investor in and adviser to Vice legitimized the company and its larger-than-life leader, Shane Smith.
—Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
This was legitimized as a way to protect the country from further invasions – which the French were constantly threatening to do.
—Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
Parcells legitimized the franchise upon his arrival as a Super Bowl-winning coach in 1993 and took the Patriots to the playoffs in two of his four seasons.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Notably, numerous high-profile cable news has-beens have legitimized Owens' outrageous laundering of a left-wing political assassination into an anti-Semitic caper.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
If there was any question, the ownership of the top spot was legitimized by the company's recent rights deal with Paramount Plus.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
This article is not useful to most of us, because 90% of towns and cities in this country are locked into a single ISP, effectively local monopolies legitimized by the feckless FCC, Congress, and state legislatures.
—Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Aug. 2025
Congressional hearings in 2022 and 2023 further legitimized the topic, with intelligence officials emphasizing national security concerns.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
In many ways, your involvement as an investor in and adviser to Vice legitimized the company and its larger-than-life leader, Shane Smith.
—Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
This was legitimized as a way to protect the country from further invasions – which the French were constantly threatening to do.
—Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
Parcells legitimized the franchise upon his arrival as a Super Bowl-winning coach in 1993 and took the Patriots to the playoffs in two of his four seasons.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Notably, numerous high-profile cable news has-beens have legitimized Owens' outrageous laundering of a left-wing political assassination into an anti-Semitic caper.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
If there was any question, the ownership of the top spot was legitimized by the company's recent rights deal with Paramount Plus.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
This article is not useful to most of us, because 90% of towns and cities in this country are locked into a single ISP, effectively local monopolies legitimized by the feckless FCC, Congress, and state legislatures.
—Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Aug. 2025
Congressional hearings in 2022 and 2023 further legitimized the topic, with intelligence officials emphasizing national security concerns.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimized
Verb
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In December, the city authorized payments of $5 million for AECOM’s first set of reports — which were originally due in mid-November — and an additional $3 million to the company for long-term recovery planning.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Both officials were not authorized to be publicly named according to Moroccan government rules.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
18 Feb. 2026
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The judge vacated his conviction and ruled Vedam was entitled to a new trial.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The people who trespassed at the Capitol, and committed disorderly behavior, enabled the mob violence.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
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In 1991, Epstein obtained power of attorney from Wexner, which enabled him to buy and sell assets on Wexner’s behalf.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pham said the Louvre tightened how many times a ticket can be validated at its multiple checkpoints.—
Thomas Adamson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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The methodology has been validated.—
Samantha Bonsack,
STAT,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Treasury also sanctioned associates, companies and vessels allegedly involved in a network used by Maduro’s former oil minister, Tareck El Aissami, to evade sanctions and resell Venezuelan crude through clandestine channels.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
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The fight will be professionally sanctioned under the Unified Rules of MMA and take place over five, five-minute rounds (as necessary) using four-ounce gloves.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Paul Williams, the first Black architect licensed west of the Mississippi, is the focus of a series of upcoming shows to be staged from August through July 2027 at the Getty, LACMA and USC Fisher Museum of Art.—
Arts Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The existing Good Samaritan Medical Center, which is licensed for 333 beds, was built in 1920 and is part of Palm Beach Health Network, which includes Tenet’s seven hospitals in Palm Beach County.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The department has been targeting states that handed out commercial driver's licenses to immigrants who shouldn't have qualified for them ever since a fatal crash in August.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
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With 16% of its housing stock qualified as affordable, according to the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Morton Grove is within that compliance.—
Alan Kozeluh,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Generally, federal immigration agents are allowed in health care settings where other members of the public are permitted, like waiting rooms, but need a warrant to access private patient areas.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The current system has permitted stars like New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto to land a $765 million contract and for Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker to find a deal that will pay him $57 million in 2026.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legitimized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimized. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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