to delegitimize
12
7.7
- verb
- /ˌdiːlɛdʒɪˈtɪmaɪz/
- Formal
:
deslegitimar
- If intended as a protest, a few unexplained resignations lack the power to delegitimize the system.
- delegitimize the party
- campaign to delegitimize
- attempt to delegitimize
But all of that, through the the corrosive critique of the Enlightenment, has been delegitimized.
- But all of that, through the the corrosive critique of the Enlightenment, has been delegitimized.
- I mean, under authoritarian regimes, if you hold a different view, you know, off to the gulag, you're not your, your views are, are delegitimized.
- And no one gets to then doesn't get to delegitimize your truth.
- Again, every chance he gets, he attacked and delegitimizes the pillars that hold our country together.
- The Great Depression and he The Great Depression really delegitimized the Republican economic record.
- If they've been charitable, they're being more, the more trying to delegitimize me or smear me, they'll say that I'm a far right person.
- We can work with our partners to delegitimize, delegitimize ISIL in the Islamic world and their perverse ideology.
Examples
-
His comment sought to delegitimize both her project on women writers and her own talent as a writer.
Academic text (1996) -
Some characterize the Palestinians' UN bid as an attempt to achieve statehood unilaterally or to delegitimize Israel.
Academic text (2011) -
Human rights do not, and should not, delegitimize traditional culture as a whole.
Academic text (2001) -
The idea was that the media would then attempt to delegitimize the Obama administration.
Blog text (8) -
In all this, Obama and the Democrats are not just attempting to delegitimize the conduct of the past eight years.
Academic text (2009) -
They attempt to delegitimize one of the most talented men to enter American politics in three generations.
-
The process of democratic politics could, in itself, isolate and delegitimize political parties that justify violence.
Academic text (2006) -
"U.S. President Barack Obama has warned the Palestinians that efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure."
Academic text (2011) -
Judging by Israel's growing international isolation, the OIC's sustained effort to delegitimize the Jewish state has borne substantial fruit.
Academic text (2011) -
Many activists are working to delegitimize the unfair practices of the current administration.
Synonyms
89
4.7
Make a person or thing seem less important
77
7.1
Make a person, group, or thing seem evil and dangerous, often unfairly
66
6.3
To harm someone's reputation so others stop trusting them
53
6.8
To make someone feel less respected or important
48
7.8
To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important
45
5.0
To make someone or something seem not important
28
7.7
To speak badly about someone or something to show little respect
24
7.5
Treat someone as shameful and not worthy of respect
22
5.0
To make something seem less important or respected
20
4.3
To make something seem less valuable, often by lowering its price or quality
8
6.6
Make people trust someone or something less
2
6.9
Show someone as evil or the cause of problems
1
8.4
Say or do things that make someone seem less respected
Antonyms
How Legitimate
∞
1.0
108
4.1
777
3.5
- Formal
552
4.3
66
6.3
- Formal
12
7.7
- Formal
33
6.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
delegitimize = legitimize (transparent) = de + legitimate + imize
The meaning is straightforwardly derived from 'legitimize' with 'de-' meaning remove or undermine legitimacy.
Etymology
Delegitimize comes from the prefix de- meaning 'remove' and legit (from legal) meaning 'lawful' or 'right'. So to delegitimize something is to try to take away its lawful or social standing, making it seem not 'acceptable' or not 'valid'.