legitimatise
Grant formal approval
To legitimatise is the British spelling of legitimatize—to make something legitimate or lawful.
Governments legitimatise their authority through elections.
A signature legitimatises a contract.
The word often carries skeptical overtones, suggesting an attempt to make something questionable appear acceptable: The ceremony was meant to legitimatise the regime.
Formally confirm agreement
- formalizeMake official or systematic
- instituteEstablish or scholarly organization
- establishCreate formally, permanently
- inaugurateBegin officially, with ceremony
charter · decree · proclaim · ordain · mandate · constitute · enshrine · institutionalize
Confirm as genuine
- verifyConfirm accuracy or truth
- certifyFormally verify as true
- confirmValidate as true
- substantiateProve something is true
corroborate · attest · notarize · document · evidence · proof · credentials · witness
Formally accept or authorize
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- authorizeGrant formal permission
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- backReverse side; support
support · uphold · endorse · warrant · license · empower · permit · allow
Abolish penalties for
- authorizeGrant formal permission
- enactPass into law
- codifyOrganize into formal rules
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
constitutional · permissible · licit · regulate · juridical · permitted · allowable · compliant
Clear of wrongdoing
- defendProtect from harm
- rationalizeExplain with invented reasons
- warrantFormal authorization document
- groundsBasis for justification
excuse · explain · normalize · mainstream · credibility · acceptability · respectability · validity
ratify
Formally confirm agreement
- formalizeMake official or systematic
- instituteEstablish or scholarly organization
- establishCreate formally, permanently
inaugurate · charter · decree · proclaim · ordain · mandate · constitute · enshrine · institutionalize · recognize
authenticate
Confirm as genuine
substantiate · corroborate · attest · notarize · document · evidence · proof · credentials · witness · accredit
approve
Formally accept or authorize
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- authorizeGrant formal permission
- consentVoluntary agreement given
back · support · uphold · endorse · warrant · license · empower · permit · allow · condone
decriminalize
Abolish penalties for
statutory · constitutional · permissible · licit · regulate · juridical · permitted · allowable · compliant · decriminalization
vindicate
Clear of wrongdoing
- defendProtect from harm
- rationalizeExplain with invented reasons
- warrantFormal authorization document
grounds · excuse · explain · normalize · mainstream · credibility · acceptability · respectability · validity · plausibility
legitimatiseinvalidate
Make null or void
delegitimise · illegalize · outlaw · criminalize · annul
legitimatisedelegitimise
Remove perceived rightfulness
discredit · stigmatize · denounce · condemn · vilify