legitimize
verb
le·git·i·mize
li-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz 
legitimized; legitimizing
: to make legitimate : legitimate
Examples of legitimize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tactics used in antisemitic marches and protests will be legitimized.
—
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 11 May 2024
Congress established Section 702 in 2008 to legitimize an existing surveillance program run by the National Security Agency (NSA) without congressional oversight or approval.
—Dell Cameron and William Turton, WIRED, 8 May 2024
Unlike his colleague Andy Warhol, whose use of photography and photo-silk-screening was initially regarded as a fad that would pass (LOL), Stella legitimized the then-popular view that painting since Cézanne had been a march toward flatness.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 5 May 2024
The Pakistan army has historically relied on the courts to legitimize its intervention in the political sphere.
—Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Apr. 2024
Gandhi called for elections in early 1977, hoping to legitimize her autocratic rule.
—Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
From 1991 until recently, Washington had shepherded a peace process in part because U.S. leaders believed that delivering a just solution for Palestinians was essential to legitimize U.S. primacy.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024
In backing away from them, the U.S. approach now resembles those of countries like China, and risks legitimizing authoritarian practices that hurt innovation and undermine fair competition.
—Ed Brzytwa, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
But others say that this would legitimize the stronger party.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 11 May 2024
Congress established Section 702 in 2008 to legitimize an existing surveillance program run by the National Security Agency (NSA) without congressional oversight or approval.
—Dell Cameron and William Turton, WIRED, 8 May 2024
Unlike his colleague Andy Warhol, whose use of photography and photo-silk-screening was initially regarded as a fad that would pass (LOL), Stella legitimized the then-popular view that painting since Cézanne had been a march toward flatness.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 5 May 2024
The Pakistan army has historically relied on the courts to legitimize its intervention in the political sphere.
—Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Apr. 2024
Gandhi called for elections in early 1977, hoping to legitimize her autocratic rule.
—Ashoka Mody, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
From 1991 until recently, Washington had shepherded a peace process in part because U.S. leaders believed that delivering a just solution for Palestinians was essential to legitimize U.S. primacy.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024
In backing away from them, the U.S. approach now resembles those of countries like China, and risks legitimizing authoritarian practices that hurt innovation and undermine fair competition.
—Ed Brzytwa, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2024
But others say that this would legitimize the stronger party.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legitimize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near legitimize
Cite this Entry
“Legitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimize. Accessed 14 May. 2024.
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Legal Definition
legitimize
transitive verb
le·git·i·mize
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz
legitimized; legitimizing
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