as in to enable
to make something real, accepted, or official
slang words legitimized by usage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legitimize
That bull and another issued three years later, Romanus Pontifex, formed the basis of the Doctrine of Discovery, the theory that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of land in Africa and the Americas.
—
Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
In the new Daredevil series, the character is trying to legitimize himself by running for mayor of New York City.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
There is a difference in legitimizing a person’s agenda versus finding common ground.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has long been co-opting the Orthodox Church to legitimize his aggression against Ukraine.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
In the new Daredevil series, the character is trying to legitimize himself by running for mayor of New York City.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
There is a difference in legitimizing a person’s agenda versus finding common ground.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has long been co-opting the Orthodox Church to legitimize his aggression against Ukraine.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimize
Verb
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The full expansion enables adults with incomes of up to 138% of the federal poverty level — amounting to $22,025 for a single person this year — to be eligible for Medicaid, the government program covering people with low incomes or disabilities.—
Phil Galewitz,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Marketing professor Jonah Berger emphasizes that understanding linguistics can enhance our communication skills, enabling us to fit in, persuade, engage, and positively influence others, especially with the aid of advanced language analysis tools and his SPEACC Framework.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The searches were being conducted at daycares, businesses and some residences, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation.—
Mark Vancleave,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Instead an employee was seen manually validating tickets.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Working closely with the sponsor, the FDA has established the technical framework — powered by improvements in artificial intelligence and modern data science — to securely stream and validate key safety and efficacy signals as these trials progress.—
Marty Makary,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There is also an industry strand, entitled The Business Forum.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
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In Connecticut, anyone facing a charge that carries possible life imprisonment is entitled to such a hearing.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These programs were designed to provide tax credits to legitimate businesses for employment taxes and wages.—
Chase Jordan
January 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
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Post-Europe is a response to this seemingly repetitive situation and the increasing tendency of legitimating a nationalist and fascist discourse.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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No one with the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office was immediately able to answer the Statesman’s question about whether vacant lots qualify for voter registration.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
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State government collects hundreds of millions from facilities via the tax — then returns those funds as part of a complex arrangement to qualify for extra federal Medicaid reimbursements.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This is the last month (until September) in which this biggest of planets is high enough in a dark sky to permit crisp telescopic views of its cloud patterns and four big satellites.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
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Central to those cases is the idea that college athletes, at least football players at the power conference level, are a labor market that sells services and that the NCAA permitting colleges to directly pay athletes is consistent with a pro league and teams that buy athlete services.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimize. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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