LEGITIMIZING Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

legitimizing

verb

present participle of legitimize

as in authorizing

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

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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 legitimizing The mayor himself will arrive this morning ahead of his afternoon one-on-one with Leo, the first American — and Chicago-born — pope, whose advocacy on immigrant rights and historic apology on Monday for the Holy See’s role in legitimizing slavery will be top of the list for Johnson to discuss. — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026 Strong suggests legitimizing and standardizing station tattoos, making a design readily available if deputies want to pay homage to their workplace, as other departments across the nation do. — Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 28 May 2026 Its historic proximity to success is a legitimizing anchor for the movement. — Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026 Institutions that once prided themselves on filtering out this kind of rhetoric are now legitimizing it. — Alma Hernandez, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026 Critics caution the pope against allowing the government to exploit his presence, warning his visit risks legitimizing the regime’s abuses while offering only symbolic appeals for peace. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026 There is a difference in legitimizing a person’s agenda versus finding common ground. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026 Others contend that legitimizing him erodes Democratic credibility on antisemitism and other issues, handing Republicans ammunition heading into the midterms. — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 What hurts the Cuban people is legitimizing it. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimizing

Verb

However, because agentic systems can execute actions independently, an error can become a severe operational failure, such as authorizing fraudulent transactions or deleting mission-critical databases.

— Barney Krishnan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Rather than authorizing private helipads citywide, the amendment would apply only to the industrial zoning district on Terminal Island, where Griffin’s marina is under construction.

— Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of authorizing

Verb

Cook has additional concerns about the noise, vibrations and emissions from a natural gas power plant that would generate electricity for the data center, enabling it to operate off the grid.

— Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
Brands should share these approaches with their customers, celebrating local fibers and crafts with place-identifying labels and enabling traceability rooted in the land and community.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 10 July 2026

Definition of enabling

Verb

They're increasingly locked into conversations with AI chatbots that seem endlessly knowledgeable, supportive and ever-validating.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 10 July 2026
The site is set to play a huge role in validating the reactor’s design by generating data on its physics and thermal hydraulics.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026

Definition of validating

Verb

The ruling gave hijras official status as a minority community, entitling them to various forms of government assistance.

— Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
The superintendent, general counsel and chief auditor qualify for the supplements due to provisions in their contracts entitling them to the same increases as other administrative staff, officials said.

— Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026

Definition of entitling

Verb

The White House has repeatedly threatened to oust Cuba’s communist regime, sanctioning key figures and state entities, and tightening a trade embargo that has led to a humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean nation.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 14 July 2026
As Jefferson’s opponents criticized him for sanctioning intervention and neglecting to free the prisoners, his supporters lashed out at the opposing Federalist Party for allegedly orchestrating a rebellion in Spain’s colonies in the first place.

— Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, The Conversation, 13 July 2026

Definition of sanctioning

Verb

Candidates can lower voters’ bills by committing to cutting permitting timelines, fixing transmission queues, and getting new generation connected to the grid.

— David Kieve, Time, 10 July 2026
The second opportunity is securing permitting reform that treats all energy equally and provides project certainty.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 9 July 2026

Definition of permitting

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legitimizing

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“Legitimizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimizing. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of legitimizing

verb

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