1
as in spurious
born to a father and mother who are not married
despite being illegitimate, Alexander Hamilton rose to greatness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
an illegitimate use of campaign contributions for personal expenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unreasonable
not using or following good reasoning
made several illegitimate inferences
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illegitimate
Both of his 2018 and 2024 elections were widely considered illegitimate by much of the international community.
—
Jared Gans, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2026
Like Noriega, Maduro’s administration had been deemed thoroughly illegitimate by Western countries years earlier, and there had been many attempts from both within and without Venezuela to overthrow his government, spearheaded by US allies like Juan Guaidó and Maria Corina Machado.
—Séamus Malekafzali, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Trump took decisive action Saturday in launching precision military strikes in Venezuela that enabled special forces to seize and detain Maduro, an illegitimate leader despised by his own people.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
Rubio insisted in interviews that Washington will use control of Venezuela’s oil industry to force policy changes, and called the government currently in place illegitimate.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illegitimate
Jared Gans, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2026
Like Noriega, Maduro’s administration had been deemed thoroughly illegitimate by Western countries years earlier, and there had been many attempts from both within and without Venezuela to overthrow his government, spearheaded by US allies like Juan Guaidó and Maria Corina Machado.
—Séamus Malekafzali, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Trump took decisive action Saturday in launching precision military strikes in Venezuela that enabled special forces to seize and detain Maduro, an illegitimate leader despised by his own people.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
Rubio insisted in interviews that Washington will use control of Venezuela’s oil industry to force policy changes, and called the government currently in place illegitimate.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illegitimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegitimate
Adjective
-
In 2017 and 2018, Sinha traced fifty-four cases of mob violence in India—mainly following spurious reports of child abductions—that had been catalyzed by WhatsApp groups.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The spurious designation of Qassem Soleimani as a global terrorist, something long requested by Benjamin Netanyahu, gave the green light for the expansion of the designation to other entities long held off from the moniker out of fear of its implications.—
Séamus Malekafzali,
Washington Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
-
Official fireworks shows took place over the city, and illegal pyrotechnics lit up the sky everywhere in between.—
Lisa Beebe,
Los Angeles Magazine,
5 July 2017
Adjective
-
The issue is critical because the Fourth Amendment is supposed to protect people from invasive government actions in their homes, shielding them from unreasonable searches and seizures.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Love, in this cultural script, is supposed to feel good most of the time, and that expectation isn’t entirely unreasonable.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The conclusion is clear: The Justice Department should drop its misbegotten prosecution of Powell and let the focus be on the real problem with the Federal Reserve—its false philosophy regarding inflation.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Cooper starred in Crowe’s Aloha, one of the director’s later and more misbegotten films.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The unlawful taking of items from a machine or device that is operated or activated by the use of coins.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Mississippi officials have argued that the state law is not preempted, while the RNC has urged the high court to strike down the Magnolia State’s law, along with similar ones in other states, as unlawful.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Tempering the not-so-irrational fears out there about AI replacing human workers, Jensen offered a more optimistic view.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In that space, intuition, which was once dismissed as irrational or unreliable, has started to re-enter the conversation.—
William Jones
January 21,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In a separate January operation, the FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force executed five residential search warrants and arrested four Latin Kings members for drug trafficking and firearm possession charges, while seizing 10 firearms and more than $120,000 in illicit funds.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Since the dawn of time, the romance of railways has seduced poets, spellbound novelists, and dealt directors the perfect hand for capturing fleeting friendships, illicit affairs, and all manner of crimes and capers.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bainbridge knew about secrets and unreasoning shame.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Let sound political prescience but take the place of an unreasoning prejudice, and this will be done.—
Frederick Douglass,
The Atlantic,
16 Aug. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Illegitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegitimate. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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