as in authorizes
to make something real, accepted, or official
slang words legitimized by usage
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Recent Examples of legitimizes
The order largely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in 40 states and grants operators major tax breaks and cannabis research access for the first time.
—
Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
His stamp of approval seemingly legitimizes the greatest promise of generative AI—to push the frontier of human knowledge and civilization.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Legalized prostitution enables and legitimizes the degradation of human beings, especially women who make up the majority of prostitutes.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
That legitimizes it a little bit.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
This legitimizes regime changes by force.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
This pledge erases dissenting Israeli voices, legitimizes falsehoods, and shields Hamas from blame.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Blanche's action Iargely legitimizes medical marijuana programs in the 40 states that have adopted them.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
His stamp of approval seemingly legitimizes the greatest promise of generative AI—to push the frontier of human knowledge and civilization.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Legalized prostitution enables and legitimizes the degradation of human beings, especially women who make up the majority of prostitutes.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 24 Feb. 2026
That legitimizes it a little bit.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
This legitimizes regime changes by force.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
This pledge erases dissenting Israeli voices, legitimizes falsehoods, and shields Hamas from blame.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimizes
Verb
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The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a group dedicated to hunters and fisherman, helped develop and pass the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act, which authorizes an annual $70 million investment through 2028 to fund research aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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Lawmakers followed with another step forward, passing House Bill 115, which authorizes automatic voter registration as part of the reentry process.—
Nicole D. Porter,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The sophisticated set by ace production designer David Gropman enables Altman’s perpetually moving and zooming camera to drift in and out of two-way mirrors that depict memories and fantasies with both immediacy and a gauzy nostalgia.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
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Access to capable hardware lowers barriers, speeds iteration, and enables real-world testing beyond simulations, accelerating progress in embodied AI, especially in manipulation and applied robotics.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Verb
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At the time, according to the New York Times, Sotheby’s was selling the work without a guarantee, an agreement that entitles the seller to a sum whether or not the work finds a buyer.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
13 Apr. 2026
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In its recent decision, the court has sided with a Colorado Christian therapist who argued that her right to free speech entitles her to counsel adolescents toward heterosexuality.—
Donna Lamb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These are foundational principles of any healthy democracy, and the result in this case validates that belief.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
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At the same time, this latest shakeup in the race seemingly validates Steyer’s decision to spend massively in order to boost himself.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Sixers’ Nick Nurse is widely believed to be under pressure too, meaning Sunday’s loss to Boston, which put them in a 3-1 hole, qualifies as a step in the wrong direction.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Most of the experts STAT consulted believe the virus either now qualifies as, or is on its way to becoming, just another one of the viruses that make people sick with cold or flu-like symptoms — with some caveats.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legitimizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimizes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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