illegal

adjective

(ˌ)i(l)-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce illegal (audio)
Definition of illegalnext
1
as in unlawful
contrary to or forbidden by law it is illegal to import those birds into this country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in foul
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport an illegal pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegal
  1. unlawful
  2. foul
  3. illicit
  4. unfair
  5. criminal
  6. nasty
Adjective
  • Chrinos was charged with carrying a rifle outside a home or business, three counts of unlawful transportation of a firearm, three counts of unregistered firearms and three counts of unregistered ammunition, DHS said.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The department also wants to strengthen corporate oversight and deter unlawful applications.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • The midterms dealt that foul idea its greatest blow since Barack Obama’s ascent to the Presidency, in 2008.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The Heat then cycled through their final two timeouts, with Adebayo off with a foul-line jumper at the regulation buzzer.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of foul
Adjective
  • The panel is like a scene sculpted in marble commemorating obsessive and illicit love; in such instances, the loss of the object of desire feels like an amputation, because the unobtainable lover is an extension and part of oneself.
    — Artforum, Artforum, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The probe could mark the start of a tougher response to illicit operators occupying sites, following years of complaints from some of the world’s biggest mining companies.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • The lawsuit seeks a court declaration recognizing Taylor’s copyright ownership, a share of the profits generated by the allegedly infringing songs, and damages for alleged fraud, false imprisonment, and unfair business practices.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The board plans a day-long impasse hearing after abruptly postponing that meeting last month for fear the union would file an unfair labor practices lawsuit.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • Also Sunday, prosecutors ordered a 48-hour detention of Marko Kricak, Vucic's chief of criminal police.
    — MARKO DROBNJAKOVIC, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Linn County prosecutors did not file criminal charges, but the church would not allow Moore to work with children, youth and vulnerable adults.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Surely, though, it is not lost on the audience that this play opens in the middle of a strikingly nasty political campaign to elect members of the Chicago school board, warring Democrats all.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Someone who hung up on your problem is unlikely to listen to a nasty critique and vow to reform.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of nasty
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.

Browse Nearby Words

ill-bred
illegal
illegalities
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Cite this Entry

“Illegal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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