LEGALIZED Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

legalized 1 of 2

adjective

as in legal

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legalized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of legalize

as in sanctioned

to make (something) legal They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.

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Dissimilar Words

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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 legalized

Verb

This is about protecting game integrity and consumers—just like legalized sports betting. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Since 2018, several states have legalized online sports betting. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026 North Carolina has not legalized either medical or recreational marijuana, but many of the edibles Hohns makes are more potent than what’s available in states that have. — Gene Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 North Carolina has not legalized either medical or recreational marijuana, but many of the edibles Hohns makes are more potent than what's available in states that have. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 The proposal shares the same name as the 2024 amendment that legalized access to the procedure. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026 The group of alders instead advanced a budget raising revenue by hiking the plastic bag tax, liquor taxes, allowing ads on light poles and city vehicles, and legalized video gambling terminals in the city of Chicago. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 Online betting was legalized in Brazil in 2018 under then-President Michel Temer but remained ‌largely unregulated throughout Jair Bolsonaro’s administration. — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026 States that have legalized sports betting derive billions of dollars in revenue from it — even as research shows that gambling disorder diagnoses are skyrocketing in those places. — Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 26 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalized

Adjective

The archaic legal restrictions restricting same-sex couples or unmarried women, for example, are acknowledged and adhered to, rather than being openly challenged or criticized.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Rigorous legal protection combined with the successful eradication of invasive feral goats in 2012 ultimately paved the way for this historic recovery.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of legal

Verb

Enetec was sanctioned in July under a presidential executive order authorizing sanctions to Cuban entities posing a direct threat to national security or involved in repression.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
The company is drawing a line between sanctioned and unsanctioned sharing with outside safety groups at the same time the industry is, slowly, inviting those groups in.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of sanctioned

Adjective

In a defining game that many thought would expose problems masked by UCLA’s early-season success, the Bruins — though imperfect — vociferously announced their arrival to the college football world as legitimate playoff contenders.

— Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Enríquez argued that lasting economic recovery would be difficult without a legitimate government and that credible elections would help establish confidence among international investors.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of legitimate

Verb

Under the rules of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), which governs high school sports in the state, such a switch is permitted.

— Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Work and medical appointments can be permitted purposes under some forms of relief.

— Karen Koehler, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of permitted

Adjective

Federal prosecutors have accused a Cuban man living as a lawful permanent resident in Cass County of voting illegally.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
Both men are Cuban nationals with lawful permanent residences in the United States, according to their complaints.

— David Goodhue October 7, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of lawful

Verb

The volume of content Netflix licensed in Spain rose from 2,420 hours in 2024 to 2,829 in 2025, including around 700 hours from RTVE and Atresmedia, up from 543 a year earlier, Ampere Analysis estimates.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Amylin Pharmaceuticals eventually licensed and developed it into the first GLP-1 medicine.

— Dr. Bowman Heiden, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of licensed

Verb

This week, SpaceX moved one step closer to its goal of building its direct-to-device Starlink Mobile service after the FCC approved the aerospace company’s application to deploy and operate 15,000 next-generation Starlink satellites.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Capping them all is JPMorgan’s proposal to erect a £3 billion, 265-meter tower that will be London’s largest office building if its plans are approved.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of approved

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“Legalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalized. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of legalized

adjective

verb

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