as in authorizing
to make something real, accepted, or official
slang words legitimized by usage
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Recent Examples of legitimizing
Gods have been especially helpful in this task of corralling the manual labor of the people and legitimizing it symbolically.
—
Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
The university system became an important site for legitimizing claims through theories and studies.
—Sara Giordano, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
Extending military honors to Babbitt goes a step further, critics argue, by legitimizing the actions of the rioters and blurring the line between service to the country and an assault on democratic institutions.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
His goal was never a quick ceasefire but rather the gradual normalization of Russian territorial conquest through the legitimizing embrace of American diplomacy.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Indeed, a huge part of the magazine’s legacy has been legitimizing Black design talent.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Aug. 2025
Paul has advocated legitimizing DOGE’s cuts by putting them through Congress.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Mar. 2025
If only there were a person uniquely situated to bring these judges to heel and bring the crisis to a halt, thus re-legitimizing the judiciary in earnest.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
The government's involvement in legitimizing mealworm powder as a safe food source also serves as a concrete example of how regulations encourage manufacturers to incorporate them into mainstream products on the way to normalizing the consumption of insects.
—Oyku Ilgar, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
The university system became an important site for legitimizing claims through theories and studies.
—Sara Giordano, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
Extending military honors to Babbitt goes a step further, critics argue, by legitimizing the actions of the rioters and blurring the line between service to the country and an assault on democratic institutions.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
His goal was never a quick ceasefire but rather the gradual normalization of Russian territorial conquest through the legitimizing embrace of American diplomacy.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Aug. 2025
Indeed, a huge part of the magazine’s legacy has been legitimizing Black design talent.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 4 Aug. 2025
Paul has advocated legitimizing DOGE’s cuts by putting them through Congress.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Mar. 2025
If only there were a person uniquely situated to bring these judges to heel and bring the crisis to a halt, thus re-legitimizing the judiciary in earnest.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
The government's involvement in legitimizing mealworm powder as a safe food source also serves as a concrete example of how regulations encourage manufacturers to incorporate them into mainstream products on the way to normalizing the consumption of insects.
—Oyku Ilgar, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimizing
Verb
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Over the last six years, Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has been engaged in open warfare with British tabloids, accusing senior editors of authorizing unlawful intrusions into people's public lives, destroying friendships and relationships.—
Michael Holden,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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In their complaint, the unions allege the budget office's memo unlawfully directs agencies to disregard their own authorizing statutes.—
Franco Ordoñez,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For adQuadrant, integrating AI branding tools significantly elevated creative output, by enabling quicker ad experimentation and empowering the team to consistently deliver impactful campaigns.—
Derya Matras,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
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Additionally, CEOs have gained greater power to set their own pay, enabling them to negotiate higher compensation packages, the report said.—
Natalie Wu,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Not the community, but by raising the level of awareness for the team, kind of validating them further.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Chatbots tend to be agreeable, helpful, and validating which makes interactions feel rewarding for users.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The complaint alleges Johnson failed to disclose restricted stock units entitling him to 330,000 shares in his January 2024 bankruptcy petition.—
Zach Everson,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Despite their rifts, the permanent members of the Security Council still agree on a wide range of subjects from aid operations to sanctioning jihadists.—
Richard Gowan,
Time,
22 Sep. 2025
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The entities sued the motorsport sanctioning body after declining to sign the charter agreement that NASCAR made available to teams to sign in September.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the councilors did have to reduce funding for some agencies and raise permitting fees for building homes and businesses to help plug a $43 million revenue hole caused in part by Senate Enrolled Act 1, the statewide tax reform plan passed by Indiana Republicans.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
7 Oct. 2025
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Turmail pointed to the Brent Spence Bridge’s paralyzed development as a prime example of regulations, including permitting requirements, impeding progress.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legitimizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimizing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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