1
as in legitimate
permitted by law
the congressman's fund-raising efforts, though arguably unethical, were determined to be legal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in moral
following or according to the rules
the referee declared it a legal play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of legal
Because Indiana doesn't require routine vehicle inspections, the truck remained street legal.
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CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The decision came after the court allowed the administration to revoke temporary legal status from about 350,000 Venezuelan migrants in another case.
—Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
America’s ratification that year broke a logjam of inaction by nations that had signed the agreement but were wary about actually ratifying it as a legal document.
—Gary W. Yohe, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2026
Our legal and historical notions of agency have long depended on physical embodiment—the sanctity of a single, identifiable body.
—Dan Turello, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legal
Adjective
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Throughout pretrial proceedings, attorneys repeatedly clashed over whether political expression related to Gaza could be considered a legitimate defense.—
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These programs were designed to provide tax credits to legitimate businesses for employment taxes and wages.—
Adjective
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The radical shifts in France — regicide, the Committee of Public Safety’s terror, and expansionist campaigns — dissolved the moral and practical basis for the alliance.—
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Without genuine emotional experience or moral agency, AI cannot provide the accountability that comes from being seen by another person.—
Adjective
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Find a tax preparer, but first review the agency's tips to find an ethical one.—
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However, ethical leadership requires a clear boundary between policy disagreement and the normalization — or tacit justification — of violence.—
Adjective
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The clean double-breasted buttons instantly add elegance to your airport outfit, especially when paired with a matching Amazon Essentials Turtleneck and sleek black Libin Wide-leg Dress Pants to keep you warm and comfortable from takeoff to arrival.—
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Baby and Kids' Toys Babies put everything in their mouths, and the dishwasher is a perfect way to keep teething rings and pacifiers clean.—
Adjective
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Brewer depicts the world of music impersonators with a fair amount of affection, like the rodeo clowns of late 20th-century America.—
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Our job is to find the right level that's fair, that creates the right type of precedent that people can follow after.—
Cite this Entry
“Legal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legal. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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