Synonym Chooser

How is the word legal different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of legal are lawful, legitimate, and licit. While all these words mean "being in accordance with law," legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts.

legal residents of the state

When can lawful be used instead of legal?

The meanings of lawful and legal largely overlap; however, lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

Where would legitimate be a reasonable alternative to legal?

In some situations, the words legitimate and legal are roughly equivalent. However, legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards.

a perfectly legitimate question about taxes

When would licit be a good substitute for legal?

The words licit and legal can be used in similar contexts, but licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law.

the licit use of drugs by doctors

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of legal The decision to keep TikTok alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but the administration has not faced a legal challenge in court — unlike many of Trump’s other executive orders. Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2025 Yet legal experts say the bill could end up doing more harm than good. Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025 It is not intended as legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025 Markel, a rising legal scholar, was embroiled in a contentious divorce and custody dispute with Donna’s daughter, Wendi Adelson, when he was ambushed and shot in July 2014. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for legal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legal
Adjective
  • High demand and cost of legitimate GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have fueled a counterfeit market.
    Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Comparing public profile pictures across platforms can help determine if applicants use legitimate images.
    Artem Lalaiants, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, the group is spending lavishly to keep kratom on store shelves and using a 7-OH ban as moral cover for doing so.
    Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Our national obsession with maximizing our health through individual choices makes clean beauty sound vaguely moral.
    Tressie McMillan Cottom, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • As a result, many have already experienced issues such as privacy violations, systemic failures, inaccurate predictions, and ethical violations.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • This approach sidesteps ethical concerns around voice cloning and unauthorized use of actor likenesses, as all work is done with proper permissions and content rights.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • At the end of the dredging, sediment that’s not placed on the beach could be left in the pit and covered with a layer of clean sand.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2023
  • The clean, bright walls along with colorful rugs and hardwood floors can seem impossible for people living in apartments.
    Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • To be fair, these TV shows aren’t out yet, and Peacock and Netflix could surprise us with something new to say about Gein and Gacy.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
  • To be fair, the Chiefs did make it to the Super Bowl last season, but they were handily beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Legal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legal. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on legal

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