as in approving
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory
Lincoln's home state of Illinois was the first to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provided for the abolition of slavery
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Recent Examples of ratifying
Workers represented by United Steelworkers Local 12775 are headed back to work at NIPSCO, after ratifying a new contract with the utility.
—
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Last April, the union celebrated when Atlanta City Council passed a resolution ratifying the first-of-its-kind collective bargaining agreement.
—Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
European lawmakers on Monday delayed a vote on ratifying the pact to seek clarification.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
America’s ratification that year broke a logjam of inaction by nations that had signed the agreement but were wary about actually ratifying it as a legal document.
—Gary W. Yohe, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2026
Key members led by Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed on Sunday to keep production levels steady through the end of March, once again ratifying a decision first made in November to suspend last year’s sequence of swift increases.
—Grant Smith, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
Advertisement When Americans gathered to debate the Constitution at their state ratifying conventions, the 12-juror requirement was a given.
—Time, 17 Dec. 2025
The United States signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996 during President Bill Clinton's first term, but the Senate voted against ratifying the treaty.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Delegates of Workers United and the company resumed bargaining in April 2024 with the goal of ratifying a new contract by the end of the year, but that never came to pass as negotiations stalled with both sides blaming the other for not coming to the table.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Todd Feurer, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Last April, the union celebrated when Atlanta City Council passed a resolution ratifying the first-of-its-kind collective bargaining agreement.
—Riley Bunch, AJC.com, 17 Mar. 2026
European lawmakers on Monday delayed a vote on ratifying the pact to seek clarification.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
America’s ratification that year broke a logjam of inaction by nations that had signed the agreement but were wary about actually ratifying it as a legal document.
—Gary W. Yohe, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2026
Key members led by Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed on Sunday to keep production levels steady through the end of March, once again ratifying a decision first made in November to suspend last year’s sequence of swift increases.
—Grant Smith, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
Advertisement When Americans gathered to debate the Constitution at their state ratifying conventions, the 12-juror requirement was a given.
—Time, 17 Dec. 2025
The United States signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996 during President Bill Clinton's first term, but the Senate voted against ratifying the treaty.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Delegates of Workers United and the company resumed bargaining in April 2024 with the goal of ratifying a new contract by the end of the year, but that never came to pass as negotiations stalled with both sides blaming the other for not coming to the table.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ratifying
Verb
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Under a California law enacted in 2018, a city, county or public agency must provide notice and hold public meetings before approving permits or allowing the reuse of existing buildings for immigration proceedings.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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On April 16, GOP state Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Houston officials for approving sanctuary policies that violated SB 4.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Before arrival, emails are sent confirming meals, treatments, and personalized itineraries.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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The company, in response to allegations that MrBeast failed to inform her of her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act, shared a screenshot of her signature confirming receipt of the employee handbook, including FMLA policies, with the outlet.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ratifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ratifying. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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