legalize

verb

Definition of legalizenext
as in to permit
to make (something) legal They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.

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Example Sentences

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 legalize The ultra-Orthodox have traditionally been exempt from military service, but in 2024, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that in the absence of any law legalizing the exemption, the military must start drafting them. — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Uthmeier chaired Keep Florida Clean, a political committee that fought against legalizing recreational marijuana. — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 This is about protecting game integrity and consumers—just like legalized sports betting. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Since 2018, several states have legalized online sports betting. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalize
  1. permit
  2. sanction
  3. allow
  4. approve
  5. enable
  6. license
Verb
  • The ordinance permits Highfill to apply excess bond proceeds to retire debt early if construction costs come in below projections, and the city holds the option to call and prepay bonds without penalty starting June 1, 2033.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Helner admires Ben-Gvir’s push to expand civilian gun ownership, permit Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, and introduce the death penalty for terrorists.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of permit
Verb
  • But, once more, have the lawyers that filed those papers been sanctioned?
    — Miles J. Zaremski, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been personally sanctioned and are facing travel bans from multiple Western countries.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of sanction
Verb
  • His go-ahead hit sparked the Brewers to a 5-4 win in Game 2 after Seymour allowed Frelick’s tying home run.
    — Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Each canister holds four missiles, allowing compatible launch systems to carry multiple interceptors within a single launch cell.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of allow
Verb
  • Because the veteran lawmaker knew whom to call, Kifowit was able to cut through the red tape in about a day and a half and get the surgery approved.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The council also approved a 25% increase for the county executive, from $192,000 to $240,000.
    — Natalie Jones, Baltimore Sun, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of approve
Verb
  • Chinese clinical tools, medical devices, and enabling technologies are likely to become increasingly central, as well.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The vulnerability, called P2PShell, impacts a coding language that powers 70% of the world’s websites, enabling hackers to remotely execute code or gain access to information stored on servers.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of enable
Verb
  • Colossal owns a stake and licenses its technology to the startup.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In Brazil, Netflix struck a deal earlier this month with broadcaster Globo, which had long held out from licensing to the streamer in its home market even as its content appeared on Netflix elsewhere in Latin America and around the world.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of license

Browse Nearby Words

legalizations
legalize
legalized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalize. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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