as in ethically
according to the rules or the law
that's not a move that can be made legally in chess
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Recent Examples of legally
For immigrants, even those here legally, who fear leaving the house for church and school.
—
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Those 16 and older who are not legally disabled must have an Illinois fishing license, a district news release said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The bill would require DHS to review lawful immigration status and report any SNAP or TANF applicants who are not in the country legally to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 5 Feb. 2026
After Wednesday’s walkout at Haltom High, school leadership released a statement saying the district is not legally allowed to take actions that could be perceived to support or deny students from any peaceful response to a cause.
—Samuel O’Neal 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legally
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Those 16 and older who are not legally disabled must have an Illinois fishing license, a district news release said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The bill would require DHS to review lawful immigration status and report any SNAP or TANF applicants who are not in the country legally to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
—Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 5 Feb. 2026
After Wednesday’s walkout at Haltom High, school leadership released a statement saying the district is not legally allowed to take actions that could be perceived to support or deny students from any peaceful response to a cause.
—Samuel O’Neal 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legally
Adverb
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Some philosophers and activists advocate for pet abolition, arguing that treating any animals as property is ethically indefensible.—
Margret Grebowicz,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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This standard verifies that down and feather products are ethically sourced, starting at the raising farm or parent farm.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Zurek’s key idea about how this transition occurs, called decoherence, is fairly well established.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Cooligan is a home-school student but his transition to high school competition was fairly seamless.—
Steve Gorches,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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That same language is now treated as politically dangerous rather than morally clarifying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The task now — clinically, scientifically, and morally — is to ensure that the extra time gained does not resemble the fate of Tithonus.—
Gilberto Lopes,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Several Kennedys have served honorably and without scandal.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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Buzzell served eight months in Iraq and Kuwait before being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2009.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
At Art Basel’s first Middle East edition in Doha, the usual choreography of an art fair felt strangely absent.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Mike, played by a rangy, companionable Hugh Jackman, is a striving singer in Milwaukee who has battled the bottle, cannot consistently pay his mortgage, and keeps himself going by appearing at the state fair dressed up to look (and sound) like Don Ho.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Chock and Bates opened the Games cleanly, scoring early and letting everyone else feel the weight of it.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
That motion flows directly into a backflip, with Atlas tucking its body tightly, rotating midair, and landing cleanly on both feet.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Original price: $13.99 These Neutrogena pre-moistened facial cleansing towelettes gently remove makeup and dissolve dirt for fresh, clean-looking skin.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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That's especially proven in season 2, when — after coming clean to her team about holding Sir captive — Gabi's closest allies turn their backs on her.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
10 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Legally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legally. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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