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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Saving the space shuttle economy As NASA prepared to retire its fleet of space shuttles in 2010 and 2011, Congress authorized creating the next-generation Space Launch System rocket as a way to soften the blow of the shuttle program’s conclusion.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
26 Mar. 2026
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Discussions about the move have been underway for the last couple of years, according to people familiar with the planning who were not authorized to speak publicly.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Knowing the cause of a delay helps passengers understand if they are entitled to compensation.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
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,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The announcement comes as venture dollars have largely chased more generic AI plays, but as investors have increasingly begun to fund AI enabled health tech.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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The fact that the same software enabled such a range of idiosyncratic styles decisively undermines any claim of a causal relationship between Gehry’s digital tools and his formal vocabulary.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Still, Democrats argued that the resolution validated what the party had fought for over the last two months — no new spending for immigration agencies absent policy reforms.—
Mathew Miranda
Updated March 27,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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Dual jury verdicts this week have validated longstanding concerns about the dangers of social media for young people.—
Barbara Ortutay,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But in January, the state Supreme Court ordered the 3rd District Court of Appeals to take another look at the case, and to demand that the Nevada County district attorney’s office explain, on the record, why it shouldn’t be sanctioned.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The 2019 law carries the possibility of fines and license suspension, but no one has been sanctioned under it.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bill Kenwright Ltd, the company of the late UK theatre stalwart, has licensed the rights after chasing the IP for more than a year.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
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Authorities later found a number of guns at Reilly's home that he was not licensed to own, according to prosecutors.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But only White Democrats qualified for the event, prompting protests from candidates of color who were excluded.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Tennessee qualified for the CFP and made the Sweet 16 in 2025, Michigan did so in 2022.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To the extent permitted by applicable law, all judgments or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket damages (excluding attorneys’ fees) associated with participation in this Promotion and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
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France and Spain have reportedly denied permission for US warplanes to use their airspace, Italy has blocked access to a base, and Britain has permitted use of its facilities only for defensive purposes.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legitimized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimized. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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