legalized 1 of 2

adjective

as in legal

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legalized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of legalize
as in sanctioned
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 legalized
Verb
Gambling disorder diagnoses rose more than 60% since 2018 in states that have legalized sports betting, a new study found. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 26 June 2026 In 1973, matatus were legalized, and their numbers in Nairobi, the capital, quickly grew. — Diego Menjíbar Reynés, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026 Because America’s youth soccer system is legalized crime that is in desperate need of real oversight, because its mission and moral compass are shattered. — Mac Engel june 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026 Polls show public opposition to legalized sports betting is mounting amid match-fixing scandals, social media harassment and aggressive marketing. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 30 June 2026 In the 2005 measure, the previous largest such instance, 576,500 immigrants had their status legalized. — Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 In the 2005 measure, the previous largest such instance, 576,500 immigrants had their status legalized. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 German courts are clarifying a gray area left by the cannabis reform that entered into effect in 2024, which legalized personal use, cultivation, and associations, but left questions over the legal status of cannabis cuttings. — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 But a New York Federal Reserve study in March found that credit delinquencies, especially among people under 40, have surged in the more than 30 states that legalized sports gambling since 2018, when the Supreme Court overturned a federal ban. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalized
  1. legal
  2. sanctioned
  3. legitimate
  4. permitted
  5. lawful
  6. licensed
  7. allowed
  8. approved
Adjective
  • Months of legal jostling leading up to the hearing centered largely on media access.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026
  • Lawyers remained advocates for private clients, but Wilson increasingly described them as participants in preserving the legal order upon which republican government depended.
    — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of legal
Verb
  • The United States recently sanctioned her for GAESA involvement.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • By late February, Sinokor controlled about 150 very large crude carriers, according to industry estimates — nearly 40% of the global fleet that wasn’t either sanctioned or tied up on long-term leases or regular routes.
    — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of sanctioned
Adjective
  • Both men argue Los Angeles should consider creating a dedicated anti-squatter task force to help law enforcement distinguish legitimate tenant disputes from cases involving criminal conduct.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Schlittler, meanwhile, has a legitimate case to start for the American League, which will be managed by rival Blue Jays skipper John Schneider.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
Definition of legitimate
Verb
  • Tickets cost $90 per person for lunch and $140 per person for dinner, including a drink token for participating breweries and wineries in the area (alcohol isn’t permitted on the covered bridge).
    — Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 6 July 2026
  • With the high court declining to intervene, the state will be permitted to enforce the law.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2026
Definition of permitted
Adjective
  • In March, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned on X that oil refiners and corporations engaged in price-fixing would be held accountable, vowing to deploy all lawful measures against unethical business practices.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Such cases include law enforcement officers and other first responders, individuals traveling directly to or from lawful employment, those seeking medical care, and those responding to emergencies.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of lawful
Verb
  • Those machines need to be licensed and insured and on the street with the cars.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The company offered a line of NFL licensed collectible products.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of licensed
Verb
  • That allowed the Saudis to get its oil out via the Red Sea – not an option for Iraq and Kuwait, whose only seaports lie in the Persian Gulf.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Apple examines each application and each update of every third-party app, and if these don’t meet Apple’s definition of acceptable, then they are not allowed to be installed.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of allowed
Verb
  • During Thursday evening’s Board of Commissioners meeting, officials unanimously, and with no additional discussion, approved Johnston’s exit agreement and named Assistant County Administrator Alan Howze as his replacement for the rest of the year.
    — Sofi Zeman July 2, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • The celebration comes 250 years after delegates in Philadelphia approved the Declaration, setting in motion what would become the world's oldest continuing experiment in self-government.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of approved

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Cite this Entry

“Legalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalized. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of legalized for Spanish Speakers

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