as in permits
to make (something) legal They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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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 legalizes This day in sports history 1944 — NFL legalizes coaching from bench. —
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 In December, the Chicago City Council passed a provision in the 2026 budget that legalizes licensing of unregulated video gambling terminals within the city limits. —Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026 This is in reference to Assembly Bill 720, a new California law which for the first time, legalizes tastings and wine sales at California vineyards. —Jess Lander, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Feb. 2026 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
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 In December, the Chicago City Council passed a provision in the 2026 budget that legalizes licensing of unregulated video gambling terminals within the city limits. —Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026 This is in reference to Assembly Bill 720, a new California law which for the first time, legalizes tastings and wine sales at California vineyards. —Jess Lander, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Feb. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizes
Verb
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The 2025 Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, or HEAR Act, expands on a 2016 law, signed by President Barack Obama, that permits victims and descendants of victims of the Holocaust to lay legal claim to works of art looted by the Nazis or sold to the Nazis under false pretenses.— Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
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The Screening Partnership Program, or SPP, permits airports to apply for private companies to provide airport security screening at their checkpoints.— Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At stake is Section 702 of FISA, which allows intelligence agencies to collect vast overseas communications without warrants, sometimes catching Americans’ private data.— Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
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Negotiations could center around one particular aspect of the complex deal that allows certain shareholders to receive an all-cash payment at a lower valuation.— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The bill also approves a request for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement.— JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
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Council approves the final list.— Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 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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This method enables the layer-by-layer assembly of atomic structures under extreme oxidation conditions.— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
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The one nation that could restrain his worst impulses — us — enables them instead.— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Pint confirmed that the company only licenses consumer-facing products.— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026
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The company licenses its brand but does not own hotels.— Cory Schouten, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Margo accepts the invitation and then goes into Susie’s room to work.— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
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The doctor, a plastic surgeon, often operates at an outpatient surgical center, but only accepts insurance for gender-affirming procedures performed at a local hospital, Memorial Health.— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In addition to funds from Missouri’s incentives package, Kansas City’s plan also authorizes City Vasquez to apply for up to $50 million in state tax credits from the Missouri Development Finance Board.— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
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Even if the victims can somehow obtain a lawyer, there is no federal statute that authorizes suits against federal officers who violate the Constitution.— Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/legalizes. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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