as in to permit
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
Related Words
Relevance
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 legalize
Kentucky legalized medical marijuana starting in 2025, with products expected on shelves soon.
—
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
In Marquette University Law School polling earlier this year, two-thirds of the 873 people surveyed said the drug should be legalized.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Even though the case continues, immigration advocates and the attorneys who filed the lawsuit said the court’s action essentially legalized racial profiling.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed legislation legalizing the possession, use and cultivation of cannabis in the state.
—Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
In Marquette University Law School polling earlier this year, two-thirds of the 873 people surveyed said the drug should be legalized.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Even though the case continues, immigration advocates and the attorneys who filed the lawsuit said the court’s action essentially legalized racial profiling.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed legislation legalizing the possession, use and cultivation of cannabis in the state.
—Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalize
Verb
-
During that time, Ashley has said he's been working on a policy that is both strong and permits access to the courthouse complex but has acknowledged the limitations of what is legally permissible.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Because John Herschel believed that the correlation between magnetic storms and auroras revealed both to be meteorological phenomena, the new observatories would be equipped with weather instruments that, in time, would permit the first global measurements of climate change.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hannah, 54, writes thrillers under her own name as well as the Poirots, sanctioned by the Christie estate.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Construction and engineering services firm Geotech Holdings – which has seven subsidiaries, each sanctioned by the US government – has headquarters in Kwai Chung, home to the city’s container port.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Having played on the Tuesday, and returning to England on Wednesday, he was allowed until Friday off, but came in on Thursday for individual recovery work.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Due process requires a commitment to the reasons punishment is sought and thus allows those reasons to be addressed and countered.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tesla could lose Musk if his pay isn’t approved.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The department will be asking the state legislature for $120 million in additional funding, but the money is not guaranteed to be approved, particularly in the face of budget uncertainty after Congress passed a bill in July that puts new financial burdens on states.—
Elliot Haspel,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Not every such deprivation becomes a literal matter of life and death as in the play, but making use of such scenarios enables Shakespeare to highlight more effectively the danger of arbitrary action.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Amorim’s strategy to go direct against Liverpool worked to nullify their press and the same approach, enabling United to start play closer to the final third, looks sensible against Brighton, too.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, through the union, players also financially benefit from licensing deals with gambling companies (The Athletic has a partnership with sportsbook BetMGM).—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Some trappers focus on humane, live-capture and relocation for nuisance animals, while others are licensed hunters who can legally trap and kill animals during hunting seasons.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Members of the committee from both political parties criticized Underly for choosing to accept an alumni award at Indiana University instead of appearing before the committee Thursday to answer questions about student safety for the public that have arisen because of the Capital Times reporting.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Christopher Scholtes accepted a plea deal that carries a sentence of 20 to 30 years in prison.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalize. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share