as in permits
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Recent Examples of legalizes
The measure also legalizes possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis concentrates by adults, as well as cannabis edibles containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana.
—
A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
First, my plan legalizes the ability for any group to purchase insurance collectively and operate across state lines.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Both medical and recreational use are legal in Colorado, and New Mexico passed a law this year that legalizes certain medical uses.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
First, my plan legalizes the ability for any group to purchase insurance collectively and operate across state lines.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Both medical and recreational use are legal in Colorado, and New Mexico passed a law this year that legalizes certain medical uses.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizes
Verb
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If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Another option is to purchase a life insurance policy with a long-term care rider, which permits you to use some or all of the death benefit to cover long-term care.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Thanks to its rounded edges and off-the-ground build, the frame still allows the primary bedroom to breathe, even with a moody velvet upholstery.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
13 Feb. 2026
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The strategy, attorneys said, allows the government to avoid adjudicating the merits of immigration cases entirely.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Samantha Brown also approves of this method.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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Who within the district — executive director, deputy chief of operations or another administrator — approves a purchase depends on the amount.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For starters the World Cup is run by the same organization, FIFA, which sanctions virtually every level of soccer globally, from the men’s and women’s World Cups, to confederation competitions including the UEFA Championships and the Copa América, to most major age-group tournaments.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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An autocratic government that sanctions violence.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In reality, the technology is a toolkit that enables geologists to draw on data, models, and geophysics to generate valuable insights at various stages of a mining project.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Ice surfaces develop a thin, mobile surface layer, sometimes called a quasi-liquid or premelted layer, that reduces friction and enables sliding.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the Pay-1 deal term expires, the film enters the Pay-2 window, where the studio exclusively licenses it to another streaming platform for additional revenue.—
Joseph M. Singer,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
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In addition to selling chips, Qualcomm also licenses its intellectual property for technologies such as 5G to other hardware companies.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Published by Tor Nightfire in February 2023, the book centers on Eric Ross, a single father struggling to provide for his two daughters, who accepts a job documenting paranormal activity within a notorious Texas residence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
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Sicurella recommends finding a local recycling center that specifically accepts fabric and textiles.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson, the bill simply authorizes continued research.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
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Now, the Constitution does also include language that authorizes Congress to regulate certain areas and what states are doing in that space, so Congress does have some power here.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalizes. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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