Find Antonyms

legalize Antonyms

Opposite of legalize

Pinning down the opposite of legalize requires matching its exact sense, so the antonyms and opposite words below are paired with a clear verb definition and ranked by contrast strength.
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• verb (Context 1)

To make something permissible by law that was previously unlawful or prohibited.

Usage Example

"Several states have recently voted to criminalize sports betting under strict regulatory oversight."

Strongest
criminalize
outlaw
prohibit
ban
Strong
forbid
proscribe

Similar words to legalize

Words similar to legalize shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

legitimize
authorize
decriminalize
sanction
permit
validate
See all synonyms of legalize

• Nearby Words

legalist
legality
legalization
legalize
legally
legato
legend

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Legalize. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/legalize
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