legitimate 1 of 2

legitimate

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word legitimate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of legitimate are lawful, legal, and licit. While all these words mean "being in accordance with law," legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards.

a perfectly legitimate question about taxes

When is it sensible to use lawful instead of legitimate?

The synonyms lawful and legitimate are sometimes interchangeable, but lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

When can legal be used instead of legitimate?

While in some cases nearly identical to legitimate, legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts.

legal residents of the state

In what contexts can licit take the place of legitimate?

Although the words licit and legitimate have much in common, licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law.

the licit use of drugs by doctors

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 legitimate
Adjective
Managing debt can feel overwhelming, but finding legitimate help doesn’t have to be. Gabriel Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 20 Feb. 2025 The museum claimed that the Bavarian State Painting Collections’s purchase of the painting from Thannhauser was legitimate, but some art historians have cast doubt on whether the Pinakothek der Moderne should be able to exhibit it. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
Yet as the warm glow of his Crimea success has faded, Putin has struggled to find a narrative to legitimate his rule. Timothy Frye, Foreign Affairs, 26 Feb. 2022 As a result, what would generally be considered unacceptable vigilantism was legitimated. Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for legitimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimate
Adjective
  • There is, of course, no legal mechanism for this to occur.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The most successful dons build their political authority more through consent than coercion, and their business portfolios include legal ventures in entertainment, private security, and construction.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Worse, social media legitimizes these unattainable criteria by validating minor turn-offs as dealbreakers.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Congressional hearings in 2022 and 2023 further legitimized the topic, with intelligence officials emphasizing national security concerns.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Constitutional Court began the trial on Dec. 27 to review an impeachment motion that accused Yoon of violating his constitutional duty by imposing martial law with no justifiable grounds.
    Reuters, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Despite this justifiable excitement the road toward comprehensive and pro-growth crypto regulation remains an uphill endeavor for crypto investors and enthusiasts.
    Sean Stein Smith, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • To ensure that the information is both transparent and trustworthy, human reviewers will validate each model card submission.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
  • But this demo only validated part of the technology required for space debris removal.
    Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Beyond legal resistance, businesses must recognize that these executive actions do not prevent private employers from maintaining lawful DEI strategies.
    Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Green cards, or lawful permanent resident cards, allow eligible immigrants to live and work permanently in the United States.
    Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Keep in mind, again, that being granted Division 1 sanctioning by U.S. Soccer is more accurately a recognition of a league’s baseline operating standards than an assessment of its competitive mettle.
    Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
  • In the first instance, governing body World Athletics would have to radically change its policy towards transgender women competing in female categories, enabling Telfer to race in events sanctioned by the organization.
    Amanda Davies, Aleks Klosok and George Ramsay, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Woo used the trip to reassure Xi that a DP government in South Korea would privilege better relations with his country, and Xi’s decision to meet with Woo personally signaled just how happy China is to hear this.
    Ian Bremmer, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Caution and brand protection suggest privileging continuity over a lucky seasonal earning.
    Matteo Atti, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Still, members of Congress are not convinced that the layoffs were warranted with bipartisan lawmakers demanding clarity on the extent of the cuts and their impact on services.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Syed's conviction was overturned by a circuit judge in 2016, who found that a failure by defense at his trial to challenge cell tower information warranted a new trial.
    Chloe Atkins, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Legitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimate. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

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