delegitimizes
Strips of credibility
Delegitimizes means undermines or removes the legitimacy of something—a government, institution, claim, or person's authority.
To delegitimize is to cast doubt on whether something deserves its status or recognition: The scandal delegitimizes the entire election.
The word often appears in political contexts where one side seeks to erode the other's standing: Critics say the new rules delegitimize dissent.
Request for information
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- contestOrganized competitive event
- challengeTest of ability
- opposeAct against something
reject · repudiate · refute · rebut · contradict · counter · dissent · protest
Weaken by stealth
- subvertSecretly weaken authority
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- destabilizeMake unsteady or insecure
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
weaken · compromise · disrupt · disempower · cripple · hobble · impair · diminish
question
Request for information
oppose · reject · repudiate · refute · rebut · contradict · counter · dissent · protest · object
undermine
Weaken by stealth
- subvertSecretly weaken authority
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- destabilizeMake unsteady or insecure
erode · weaken · compromise · disrupt · disempower · cripple · hobble · impair · diminish · sap
nullify
Make of no effect
- voidWithout legal effect
- annulDeclare legally void
- invalidateMake null or void
negate · repeal · rescind · abrogate · quash · overturn · revoke · cancel · vacate · vitiate
undermine
Weaken by stealth
disparage · defame · smear · denigrate · besmirch · vilify · slander · malign · stigmatize · decry
- tarnishesblemishes, blots, corrupts, defames, denigrates
delegitimizeslegitimizes
Makes officially acceptable
validates · legitimates · authorizes · sanctions · legalizes
delegitimizesendorses
Gives public support to
validates · affirms · upholds · recognizes · acknowledges
delegitimize, delegitimized, delegitimizing, delegitimization