as in sanctioning
to make (something) legal
They wanted to legalize gambling in their city.
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Recent Examples of legalizing
Texas followed by legalizing hemp in 2019, allowing products that meet the THC threshold to be manufactured and sold.
—
Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
The annual debate over legalizing sports betting in Minnesota is back at the state Capitol, with lawmakers pointing to a new federal shift on prediction markets as a potential game-changer.
—Esme Murphy, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Defending the gambling expansion, Rouse has typically framed legalizing new gambling machines as an important source of income for small businesses.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Multiple states have argued that legalizing and regulating sports betting is under the jurisdiction of local regulators and outside the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates event contracts and the prediction markets.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
Since legalizing online gambling in 2021, the state requires betting platforms to be licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 5 Mar. 2026
His issues page lists populist reforms like raising the minimum wage, strengthening workers’ ability to organize, and legalizing marijuana.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
In a time of great financial instability and uncertainty for our city, legalizing unregulated video gambling terminals will only worsen our problems.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The association, which represents casinos, including Monarch Casino in Black Hawk, conducted the poll after learning that gambling companies were interested in legalizing internet gambling — known as iGaming — in Colorado, a state in which online sports betting is popular.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026
The annual debate over legalizing sports betting in Minnesota is back at the state Capitol, with lawmakers pointing to a new federal shift on prediction markets as a potential game-changer.
—Esme Murphy, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Defending the gambling expansion, Rouse has typically framed legalizing new gambling machines as an important source of income for small businesses.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Multiple states have argued that legalizing and regulating sports betting is under the jurisdiction of local regulators and outside the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates event contracts and the prediction markets.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
Since legalizing online gambling in 2021, the state requires betting platforms to be licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 5 Mar. 2026
His issues page lists populist reforms like raising the minimum wage, strengthening workers’ ability to organize, and legalizing marijuana.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
In a time of great financial instability and uncertainty for our city, legalizing unregulated video gambling terminals will only worsen our problems.
—Julie Darling, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The association, which represents casinos, including Monarch Casino in Black Hawk, conducted the poll after learning that gambling companies were interested in legalizing internet gambling — known as iGaming — in Colorado, a state in which online sports betting is popular.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalizing
Verb
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The Nevada County public defender’s office and the nonprofit Civil Rights Corps asked the state appeals court to investigate the matter, and to consider sanctioning Wilson’s office for submitting the false citations.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Russia’s shadow fleet is made up of aging tankers that are bought used, often by nontransparent entities with addresses in countries that are not sanctioning Russia.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Miami, which lost for the seventh time in eight games, again was slow and passive and inattentive defensively, permitting the Pacers to shoot 58 percent overall and 46 percent (18 for 39) on threes.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Keller was even better, permitting just three singles and no walks in six innings.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Share a story from your childhood or help a child with a project, allowing youthful happiness to exist freely.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The 808, by contrast, had an onboard computer, allowing musicians to program their own sounds and percussion patterns.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Political experts have also pointed out that Proposition 50 passed with a wide margin, with 64% of of voters approving the measure, so the investigation wouldn't have any impact on the results.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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The judge will consider approving the settlement at an April 2 hearing.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The company began licensing its software and selling hardware for ticketing services.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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But the application posits a scenario of the company licensing its technology to various partners, as many vendors currently do.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Going to a local bike shop instead of buying online can help, enabling riders to ask questions, take a test ride and learn what’s legal and what isn’t.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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The service supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web access, enabling file syncing and sharing across devices.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Legalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalizing. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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