as in to permit
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legalize
It was transferred to PACs fighting a state ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
The kingdom has already stirred some backlash for hosting international female performers, but legalizing alcohol would be a more controversial leap.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
The controversy centers on the use of opioid settlement funds to finance an extensive advertising campaign against Amendment 3, a ballot measure aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida.
—Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022 and the ongoing three-year conflict, Kyiv took steps to legalize medical cannabis in December 2023 to help address the rising public health challenges caused by the war.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
The kingdom has already stirred some backlash for hosting international female performers, but legalizing alcohol would be a more controversial leap.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
The controversy centers on the use of opioid settlement funds to finance an extensive advertising campaign against Amendment 3, a ballot measure aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida.
—Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022 and the ongoing three-year conflict, Kyiv took steps to legalize medical cannabis in December 2023 to help address the rising public health challenges caused by the war.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalize
Verb
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His administration has accused the schools of allowing antisemitism and facilitating the spread of pro-Hamas propaganda by permitting the campus protests, which free-speech advocates say are protected by the First Amendment.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
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Teams are permitted to have up to 35 players in their squad at the start of the tournament (and must have a minimum of 26).—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned some 35 individuals involved in laundering money for Iran on Friday as the administration seeks to make a deal with Iran over its nuclear weapons program.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2025
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In response to Iran's expanding missile program, the U.S. recently sanctioned multiple individuals and entities in both Iran and China involved in procuring missile propellant materials.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Weissert walked a batter, then allowed a single before a big strikeout of Matt Thaiss.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
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The formal agreement, known as 287(g), allows the university police department to train some of its officers to act as immigration agents, a role previously designated to federal law enforcement officials.—
Clara-Sophia Daly,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
Verb
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All told, the text unveiled by the Senate Finance Committee Republicans provides the most comprehensive look yet at changes the GOP senators want to make to the 1,000-page package approved by House Republicans last month.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
17 June 2025
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With director Gilbert Trejo — who was mentored by frequent White Stripes video director Autumn de Wilde — also interested in collaborating, White finally approved the project.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
17 June 2025
Verb
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United States Supreme Court appointments from the previous Trump administration have resulted in decisions that enabled roughly half of US states to severely restrict or ban abortions.—
Andy Greenberg,
Wired News,
16 June 2025
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There are technologies available that would enable a full platform transition (hypervisor and storage) or a partial transition (keep the VMware hypervisor, but move to alternative storage).—
Bruce Kornfeld,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Platforms like LiveRamp's Data Marketplace allow retailers to license their first-party audiences to programmatic buyers without building a complete DSP/SSP stack.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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Not facing the same regulatory oversight as cannabis, hemp products are often cheaper and are readily available for purchase at gas stations and smoke shops rather than licensed dispensaries.—
Dan Belson,
Baltimore Sun,
16 June 2025
Verb
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The Authority never kept its promises to renounce terrorism and accept Israel.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
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Cash or check at the door (credit cards not accepted).—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalize. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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