as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
had a long history of using illicit drugs
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Recent Examples of illicit
In other cases, including the one described in the charging documents against Cole, suspects are accused of hacking into the social media accounts of victims to obtain the illicit images.
—
Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 15 June 2025
To eat like this anywhere would have been a treat; to eat like this in the wild, after a day on the water, felt downright illicit.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025
Three people, including two from the capital region, pleaded guilty in connection with an illicit gambling business, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
—Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
That included Vásquez's organization, which was about to receive a four-year, $2.5 million grant to continue fighting illicit activity that affects Indigenous people in the region.
—Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 15 June 2025
To eat like this anywhere would have been a treat; to eat like this in the wild, after a day on the water, felt downright illicit.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025
Three people, including two from the capital region, pleaded guilty in connection with an illicit gambling business, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
—Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
That included Vásquez's organization, which was about to receive a four-year, $2.5 million grant to continue fighting illicit activity that affects Indigenous people in the region.
—Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illicit
Adjective
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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
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
Adjective
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She was convicted in 1995 on nine charges, including conspiracy to remove body parts and unlawful authorization of the removal of eyes, hearts, lungs and brains from corpses.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
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Nonetheless, this latest ruling may embolden such plaintiffs in California and elsewhere to assert unlawful discrimination claims with greater confidence and, perhaps, greater frequency.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The judge suggested then that the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security could work out between themselves whether the government’s priority is to try him on the criminal charges or deport him.—
Travis Loller,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2025
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Two years after Ezra Miller's last screen role and three years after a barrage of legal issues, including criminal charges and harassment allegations, The Flash star is eyeing a return.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illicit. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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