legitimized

verb

past tense of legitimize
as in authorized
to make something real, accepted, or official slang words legitimized by usage

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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 legitimized This was legitimized as a way to protect the country from further invasions – which the French were constantly threatening to do. — Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 In many ways, your involvement as an investor in and adviser to Vice legitimized the company and its larger-than-life leader, Shane Smith. — Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025 Mass media genres are developed and legitimized to voice particular concerns and provide pleasures that align with audiences’ interests. — Tham Thi Nguyen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026 Trump signed the Genius Act in July, legislation that legitimized the technology. — Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026 Parcells legitimized the franchise upon his arrival as a Super Bowl-winning coach in 1993 and took the Patriots to the playoffs in two of his four seasons. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025 Leo’s own family history and past apologies Kellerman welcomed Leo’s apology, but said more needs to be done to further acknowledge how the Catholic Church legitimized and expanded slavery. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026 Notably, numerous high-profile cable news has-beens have legitimized Owens' outrageous laundering of a left-wing political assassination into an anti-Semitic caper. — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimized
  1. authorized
  2. entitled
  3. enabled
  4. validated
  5. sanctioned
  6. licensed
  7. qualified
  8. permitted
Verb
  • Many of them spoke on the condition of anonymity because their exchanges were private or they are not authorized to speak on the record.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Wellcare terminated coverage for about 140,000 Value Script beneficiaries in April, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly about it and feared reprisals at work for doing so.
    — Susan Jaffe, NPR, 6 July 2026
Definition of authorized
Verb
  • Every child is entitled to a public education in this country, Nakassis said, and special education is a response to the fact that some children have differences that require additional support.
    — Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Every child is entitled to a public education in this country, Nakassis said, and special education is a response to the fact that some children have differences that require additional support.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of entitled
Verb
  • Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • This enabled attendees to not only take in the education in greater detail, but also to share with other stylists and colorists at their salons.
    — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of enabled
Verb
  • With the wireless earbuds validated, the way is clear for Soundcore to bring Thus into larger product categories.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The nanodiamonds will also need to be tested for stability and sensing capabilities, which will be further validated by CSIRO.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2026
Definition of validated
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
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
  • One of his daughters, Marcye Scott, is among the four Democrats who qualified for this 13th Congressional District race.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • The ombudsmen point to impossible care burdens that cause burnout, irregular schedules, lack of training and the difficulty of taking care of seniors who, in previous decades, would have qualified for hospital care.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Definition of qualified
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

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Cite this Entry

“Legitimized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimized. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on legitimized

Nglish: Translation of legitimized for Spanish Speakers

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