as in legal
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in sanctioned
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Esme Murphy, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Her decision comes five years after the state legalized marijuana possession.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2026
The problem of companies substituting hemp for marijuana dates to 2018, when Congress legalized hemp, a close cousin of marijuana that has only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound that makes people high.
—Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
Marijuana itself has also not been legalized for medical use.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Critics of the petition process often compare the Missouri Constitution to a thick book that can be updated with few hurdles, such as the 39 pages added after voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2022.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026
The accountant, 33, said his gambling problems started after New York launched legalized mobile sports betting in January 2022.
—Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
As of 2026, 39 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico offer legalized sports betting, an activity that, with betting apps on phones, is easy to partake in.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The bipartisan bill — Senate Bill 131 — was introduced earlier this year with the intention of slowing gambling habits after a group of politicians heard warnings about increasing gambling addiction since Colorado legalized online sports betting in May 2020.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
Minnesota has legalized marijuana.
—Esme Murphy, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Her decision comes five years after the state legalized marijuana possession.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2026
The problem of companies substituting hemp for marijuana dates to 2018, when Congress legalized hemp, a close cousin of marijuana that has only trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound that makes people high.
—Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
Marijuana itself has also not been legalized for medical use.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Critics of the petition process often compare the Missouri Constitution to a thick book that can be updated with few hurdles, such as the 39 pages added after voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2022.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026
The accountant, 33, said his gambling problems started after New York launched legalized mobile sports betting in January 2022.
—Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
As of 2026, 39 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico offer legalized sports betting, an activity that, with betting apps on phones, is easy to partake in.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
The bipartisan bill — Senate Bill 131 — was introduced earlier this year with the intention of slowing gambling habits after a group of politicians heard warnings about increasing gambling addiction since Colorado legalized online sports betting in May 2020.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalized
Adjective
-
Homebuyers browsing Zillow across parts of the Midwest on Wednesday may find thousands of incomplete or outdated listings, after a mounting legal fight disrupted the flow of new listings to the platform.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
-
By the time legal exposure becomes visible, the groundwork has often already been laid.—
William Phillips,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
More than 20 states have now sanctioned it as a girls' high school varsity sport and NFL clubs voted in December 2025 to support the launch of a professional flag football league.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
-
The three were sanctioned by the Biden administration after the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters in July 2021.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Taiwan is its integral part, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
-
Yet many of the investment deals on offer are sketchy and tenuously legitimate—the digital equivalent of a man in a trenchcoat offering his wares on the sidewalk.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
For example, in a class with 20 students, 8 A’s would be permitted, while in a course of 100, the instructor could allocate 24 A’s — 20% of the total number of students plus four additional.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Starting next week, tents, canopies, or easy-ups will not be permitted in most areas of the beach within the city of Laguna Beach, and violators will face fines of up to $500.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Others protect lawful off-duty cannabis use, subject to important exceptions.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Cekada and Blanche said the new regulations would ease burdens for the firearms industry and lawful gun owners.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Anthem Tax Services Highlights Anthem Tax Services is licensed in all 50 states and requires clients to have $10,000 in tax debt to enroll.—
John Csiszar,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
-
Sony remains the key legal holdout, and any fair-use ruling in its outstanding cases could reshape how AI music gets licensed.—
Maureen Kerr,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The ruling comes just hours after Glanville originally found that the officials should be allowed into the Election Night Reporting Room, a move that received pushback from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
If the project is approved, construction is projected to start June 29 and run for a year.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 May 2026
-
The City Council approved the $500,000 settlement on Thursday, adding another payout to the city’s till related to Platt’s four-year tenure.—
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalized. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
