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 past months, Washington has assembled an extensive naval and air presence near Venezuelan waters—the largest seen in decades—while authorizing the CIA to operate inside the country.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Mignini had also faced allegations of abuse of office in 2006 for authorizing unauthorized wiretaps during the Monster of Florence investigation; he was convicted in 2010, but the ruling was later annulled.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Every system is designed for manufacturability from day one, enabling rapid iteration and high-volume production.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
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Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan, and the Taliban regime that rules the country, of harboring and enabling terrorist groups targeting its territory, including Taliban militant offshoot, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That was validating for me as an MC, and for the Roots.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
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The amendment group said the Department of State is trying to unlawfully create new criteria for validating signatures.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 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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This could include sanctioning, censuring or suspending a judge, or recommending a judge be removed from office.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Oct. 2025
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Garcia had entered the final 18 months of his Barca deal and sporting director Deco was not opposed to sanctioning a sale for a player who was at risk of leaving for free in the following two summer windows.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their characteristic projecting spines serve both as flotation modulators (via a complex process akin to raising and lowering protoplasmic sails) and as masts permitting the cell to extend itself outward into the surrounding water and feed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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States governed by both Democrats and Republicans — including Florida, Montana and Washington — have enacted reforms like eliminating minimum lot sizes, permitting accessory dwelling units and limiting on-site parking spaces.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legitimizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimizing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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