LEGITIMIZED Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

legitimized

verb

past tense of legitimize

as in authorized

to make something real, accepted, or official slang words legitimized by usage

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of legitimized The Peruvian system has a solid institutional foundation that was legitimized over time and is supported by the Peruvian public. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026 Arizona's recognition of the bolo legitimized the piece as more than a nontraditional tie. — Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Mass media genres are developed and legitimized to voice particular concerns and provide pleasures that align with audiences’ interests. — Tham Thi Nguyen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026 Leo’s own family history and past apologies Kellerman welcomed Leo’s apology, but said more needs to be done to further acknowledge how the Catholic Church legitimized and expanded slavery. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimized

Verb

Regulated facilities and medical labs can automatically audit PPE compliance and control authorized access into cleanroom environments.

— Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief the media.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of authorized

Verb

Mulligan’s Lindsay is brittle, entitled and frequently cruel, giving the actress the chance to deliver scathing rejoinders and self-deluded justifications, all with a deep reservoir of personal disappointment.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
While the city eventually reimbursed Figgs for attorneys fees, attorney Edward Moor of Moor Law Office says the clerk is entitled to damages for suffering over four years, as the document destruction lawsuit filed in October 2021 dragged on.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of entitled

Verb

This also enabled Laporta to improve his previously tense relationship with UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin.

— Pol Ballús, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Teams should trace root causes, fix the control failures that enabled the path, and retest to prove the attacker’s route is actually gone.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of enabled

Verb

Chelsea have sanctioned more moves to other Premier League sides than any other side, sending 10 players each to Everton and Villa.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
The school day continued as normal and the students involved will be sanctioned according to Little Rock School District policies, Rike wrote.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of sanctioned

Verb

The woman remains eligible to work as a registered nurse in Florida and in most places in the United States through an agreement that allows nurses licensed in one state to work elsewhere.

— Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
The company licensed the intellectual property related to the approach from the National Eye Institute, which sits within the National Institutes of Health.

— Emma Clapp, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of licensed

Verb

That’s because of Shaw’s injury record during his career and the worry of how United will rotate him with so many games this season, having qualified for the Champions League — and where this might leave them defensively.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
In the old format, Shane van Gisbergen’s road-course dominance would’ve automatically qualified him for the playoff field thanks to two wins at extra curvy tracks this summer.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of qualified

Verb

The emergency backup is permitted to perform other duties within the team.

— Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The executive order pauses new permits for facilities exceeding 50 megawatts, but Lake Mariner’s 500-megawatt buildout was already permitted before the order took effect.

— Petala Ironcloud, ArsTechnica, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of permitted

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“Legitimized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimized. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of legitimized

verb

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