as in to enable
to make something real, accepted, or official
slang words legitimized by usage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legitimize
During his first term, President Donald Trump's administration broke with decades of U.S. foreign policy by supporting Israel's claims to territory seized by force and taking steps to legitimize the settlements.
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Arkansas Online, 29 May 2025
This use of legitimate infrastructure to legitimize malicious emails, forms and websites has driven viral story after viral story in recent months.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
But the right amount would legitimize their businesses, putting them on a path to skyrocketing growth.
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
An unelected billionaire sought to overhaul the federal government, empowered and legitimized not by Congress but only by the president.
—Laura Ellyn Smith, The Conversation, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
Arkansas Online, 29 May 2025
This use of legitimate infrastructure to legitimize malicious emails, forms and websites has driven viral story after viral story in recent months.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
But the right amount would legitimize their businesses, putting them on a path to skyrocketing growth.
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
An unelected billionaire sought to overhaul the federal government, empowered and legitimized not by Congress but only by the president.
—Laura Ellyn Smith, The Conversation, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimize
Verb
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There are technologies available that would enable a full platform transition (hypervisor and storage) or a partial transition (keep the VMware hypervisor, but move to alternative storage).—
Bruce Kornfeld,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Info-tainment and digital implementation that could enable customers to learn more about the brand are planned for the Sease store expected to open in Abu Dhabi in February 2026.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
16 June 2025
Verb
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By Friday, Marines had been deployed in Los Angeles, with little clarity on whether their guns contained live rounds and under what circumstances they were authorized to fire.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
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An overwhelming 90% of the members of Vox Media Union had voted Thursday to authorize a strike if a deal was not reached by the time their current contract expired at 11:59 p.m.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Startups begin with a single product, focusing on validating product-market fit based on a few customer conversations or feedback, involving lots of demos and proof of concepts.—
Anjai Lal,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Reaching this point can feel thrilling, even validating.—
Melody Wilding,
Harvard Business Review,
13 June 2025
Verb
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With respect to the recent data sharing between CMS and DHS, HHS acted entirely within its legal authority—and in full compliance with all applicable laws—to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 June 2025
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All federal employees who are receiving a government pension are entitled to the same benefits as all other workers who receive a pension from work outside Social Security.—
Elliot Raphaelson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
Verb
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In response, elites double down, weaponizing the claim of misinformation to legitimate the stifling of debate.—
Jacob Hale Russell,
TIME,
4 Mar. 2025
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The best security feels effortless to legitimate users while remaining impenetrable to attackers.—
Jitender Jain,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Iran, one of the countries named, has qualified for the World Cup.—
Anne M. Peterson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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The nadirs were England’s senior men’s side failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championship and the under-21s getting beaten 4-0 by their German counterparts in the age group’s Euro 2009 final.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Verb
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But even now, decades later, the U.S. has fewer missile interceptors deployed (44) than the treaty permitted (100).—
Matthew Bunn,
The Conversation,
6 June 2025
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Teams are permitted to have up to 35 players in their squad at the start of the tournament (and must have a minimum of 26).—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimize. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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