diff --git a/markitect/cli.py b/markitect/cli.py
index 93c69c14..39d769c2 100644
--- a/markitect/cli.py
+++ b/markitect/cli.py
@@ -1493,7 +1493,7 @@ def generate_schema(config, file_path, max_depth, output, outfile, output_format
 @cli.command('validate')
 @click.argument('file_path', type=click.Path(exists=True, path_type=Path))
 @click.option('--schema', '-s', type=click.Path(exists=True, path_type=Path),
-              help='Path to JSON schema file')
+              help='Path to JSON schema file (.json or .md)')
 @click.option('--schema-json', type=str,
               help='JSON schema provided as a string')
 @click.option('--quiet', '-q', is_flag=True,
@@ -1502,21 +1502,38 @@ def generate_schema(config, file_path, max_depth, output, outfile, output_format
               help='Show detailed validation errors (Issue #8)')
 @click.option('--error-format', type=click.Choice(['text', 'json', 'markdown']), default='text',
               help='Format for detailed error output')
+@click.option('--semantic/--no-semantic', default=True,
+              help='Enable/disable semantic validation (sections, patterns, quality)')
+@click.option('--check-links', is_flag=True,
+              help='Enable link validation (may be slow, requires --semantic)')
+@click.option('--strict', is_flag=True,
+              help='Treat warnings as errors')
 @pass_config
-def validate(config, file_path, schema, schema_json, quiet, detailed_errors, error_format):
+def validate(config, file_path, schema, schema_json, quiet, detailed_errors, error_format,
+             semantic, check_links, strict):
     """
     Validate a markdown file against a JSON schema.
 
+    ENHANCED: Now includes semantic validation of x-markitect extensions:
+    - Section classifications (required, recommended, optional, discouraged, improper)
+    - Content patterns (required_patterns, forbidden_patterns)
+    - Quality metrics (min_words, max_words, min_sentences)
+
     Checks if a markdown document strictly adheres to the structure defined
     by a specified schema. Returns boolean result (True/False).
 
-    Issue #8: Enhanced with detailed error reporting for failed validations.
-
     Examples:
-        markitect validate doc.md --schema schema.json
-        markitect validate doc.md --schema-json '{"$schema": "...", "type": "object"}'
+        # Structural + semantic validation (default)
+        markitect validate doc.md --schema manpage-schema-v1.0.md
+
+        # Only structural validation
+        markitect validate doc.md --schema schema.json --no-semantic
+
+        # Strict mode (warnings become errors)
+        markitect validate doc.md --schema schema.json --strict
+
+        # Legacy detailed errors
         markitect validate doc.md --schema schema.json --detailed-errors
-        markitect validate doc.md --schema schema.json --errors --error-format json
     """
     try:
         validator = SchemaValidator()
@@ -1594,6 +1611,46 @@ def validate(config, file_path, schema, schema_json, quiet, detailed_errors, err
                     click.echo("❌ Document structure does not match schema requirements")
                     click.echo("💡 Use --detailed-errors to see specific validation issues")
 
+        # Semantic validation (if enabled and schema has x-markitect extensions)
+        semantic_report = None
+        if semantic and schema:
+            try:
+                from .semantic_validator import SemanticValidator, load_schema_from_path
+
+                # Load schema (supports .md and .json)
+                schema_dict = load_schema_from_path(schema)
+
+                # Check if schema has x-markitect extensions
+                has_extensions = ('x-markitect-sections' in schema_dict or
+                                'x-markitect-content-control' in schema_dict)
+
+                if has_extensions:
+                    sem_validator = SemanticValidator(schema_dict)
+                    semantic_report = sem_validator.validate(file_path, check_links=check_links)
+
+                    # Combine with structural validation result
+                    if semantic_report and not quiet:
+                        click.echo("")
+                        click.echo("=" * 60)
+                        click.echo("Semantic Validation Results:")
+                        click.echo("=" * 60)
+                        click.echo(semantic_report.format_text())
+
+                    # Update validity based on semantic validation
+                    if semantic_report:
+                        if semantic_report.has_errors():
+                            is_valid = False
+                        elif strict and semantic_report.has_warnings():
+                            is_valid = False
+
+            except Exception as e:
+                # Semantic validation failure doesn't fail the whole command
+                # unless strict mode is enabled
+                if not quiet:
+                    click.echo(f"\n⚠️  Semantic validation error: {e}", err=True)
+                if strict:
+                    is_valid = False
+
         # Exit with appropriate code
         sys.exit(0 if is_valid else 1)