legitimized

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Declaration of Independence legitimized the cause of the rebels but also empowered them to brand loyalists as traitors who could be legally sentenced to death.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

“Seeing Peggy get her Cinderella moment legitimized her as one of the romantic leads of the show,” Benton says.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

A genre as wide-reaching and weird as this one doesn’t need golden statues to be legitimized.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2025

Medieval belts also managed a celebration of the pregnant silhouette, but devotion to Mary rather than patriotic “populationism” legitimized it.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025

“Biko, wear something nice. Kainene will be dressing up too,” her mother had added, as if mentioning her twin sister somehow legitimized everything.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie