as in authorized
to make something real, accepted, or official
slang words legitimized by usage
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Recent Examples of legitimized
That bull and another issued three years later, Romanus Pontifex, formed the basis of the Doctrine of Discovery, the theory that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of land in Africa and the Americas.
—
Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
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
Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimized
Verb
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The potential deal has been shared with various creditor groups, according to the people, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
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According to a law enforcement source who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, Cardenas was believed to have been inducted into the Mexican Mafia around 2022.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As part of her agreement to plead guilty, prosecutors will dismiss four felony counts of perjury, procurement or false or forged document to be filed, and two counts of not being entitled to vote in an election.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Warsh would be entitled to up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Juan Carlos Thola Duran, 59, admitted Monday to leading a scheme that enabled organized theft crews with a majority traveling from South America to help carry out burglaries, retail thefts and fraud in Southern California and across multiple states, according to federal prosecutors.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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What social structures enabled Musk and his peers to acquire so much power, such that their messianic techno-reactionary futurism is a real threat rather than just fodder for b-rate science fiction?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By producing the clearest map to date of soft X-rays, this team has further validated the phenomenon as a fascinating area of study in its own right.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The system integrates a total of 17 interconnected circuits, each of which must be powered and validated, one step at a time.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As of the end of 2025, the walls of Atlanta feature more than 2,000 murals and sanctioned graffiti pieces.—
Arthur Rudick,
AJC.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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The European Union first sanctioned him in 2008, and imposed parallel sanctions in 2022 over the use of live ammunition, arbitrary detention of protesters and journalists, and the violent suppression of demonstrations.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The vaccine is licensed for these age groups, and patients may choose to receive it at these ages in consultation with their health care provider.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
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Shaknovsky, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, had been licensed to practice in several states.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This week, California qualified a measure, which is being led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Business Roundtable, and the California Business Properties Association.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Lake Nona, Lake Highland Prep and Innovation are the three area schools that qualified both its boys and girls teams to next week’s FHSAA state tournaments.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Outside food and drinks are allowed in most areas, which is helpful for families with dietary needs or anyone trying to keep costs down, though outside food is not permitted inside the aquarium.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
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The diplomat also spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't permitted to brief reporters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legitimized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimized. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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