1
as in unlawful
contrary to or forbidden by law
it is illegal to import those birds into this country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of illegal
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
Facebook has been scrutinized for its handling of its users’ data, and social networks face fines in Germany for failing to swiftly take down hate speech and illegal content.
—Amie Tsang, New York Times, 4 July 2017
In the 1950s and 1960s, major city hospitals in the United States admitted as many as 20 to 30 women a day for complications from illegal or self-induced abortions.
—Cindy Crabb, Teen Vogue, 1 July 2017
Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as a stuck-in-a-rut suburban couple who open an illegal casino to pay for their daughter's college tuition.
—Owen Gleiberman, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2017
They are charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after previous deportation or removal, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Ray Parmer.
—Carol Robinson, AL.com, 30 June 2017
Trump later walked back these comments, sort of, saying that instead, doctors should be punished for providing abortions if the procedure were made illegal.
—Michael Sebastian, Cosmopolitan, 29 June 2017
A Helsinki district court on Wednesday ordered the assets of Uber's Finnish country manager be confiscated until police conclude an investigation into whether the U.S. ride-hailing firm operates an illegal taxi service in Finland.
—Reuters, Fortune, 28 June 2017
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
Facebook has been scrutinized for its handling of its users’ data, and social networks face fines in Germany for failing to swiftly take down hate speech and illegal content.
—Amie Tsang, New York Times, 4 July 2017
In the 1950s and 1960s, major city hospitals in the United States admitted as many as 20 to 30 women a day for complications from illegal or self-induced abortions.
—Cindy Crabb, Teen Vogue, 1 July 2017
Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as a stuck-in-a-rut suburban couple who open an illegal casino to pay for their daughter's college tuition.
—Owen Gleiberman, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2017
They are charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after previous deportation or removal, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Ray Parmer.
—Carol Robinson, AL.com, 30 June 2017
Trump later walked back these comments, sort of, saying that instead, doctors should be punished for providing abortions if the procedure were made illegal.
—Michael Sebastian, Cosmopolitan, 29 June 2017
A Helsinki district court on Wednesday ordered the assets of Uber's Finnish country manager be confiscated until police conclude an investigation into whether the U.S. ride-hailing firm operates an illegal taxi service in Finland.
—Reuters, Fortune, 28 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegal
Adjective
-
What happens if a landlord charges an unlawful late fee?—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
-
London’s High Court ruled that the decision to proscribe the group was unlawful, but has kept the ban in place pending an appeals court ruling due Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Then left fielder Alex Call ran into the retaining wall in foul territory to catch Edgar Quero’s fly ball for the final out of the inning.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
From the early challenge that reversed Wembanyama's foul, to its 3-point shooting, absolutely everything has gone San Antonio's way in Game 4.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The schemes involve a predator pretending to be a teenager online and tricking victims into sending illicit photos of themselves.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
Beyond the more familiar terrain of diabetics, IVF patients, people using hormone therapy, and intravenous users of illicit drugs, people have been turning themselves into lab rats for new wellness frontiers.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Obama's tan suit moment has persisted for his supporters as an example of unfair criticism, but nearly a decade later, the suit has become an iconic piece of fashion within itself.—
Morgan Evans,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
The Harris Poll defined a toxic boss as someone who exhibits harmful workplace behaviors, including unfair preferential treatment, blame-shifting, unnecessary micromanagement, taking credit for others’ ideas and acting unprofessionally.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The accusations against Burton have raised questions about his criminal background and the vetting process city officials use before hiring someone for Safe Streets.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The insecurity crisis is frustrating business owners, human rights defenders and regular Haitians who are forced to navigate a capital that is largely controlled by criminal gangs.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Yet thieves have found a nasty workaround.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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The nasty spat culminated in April when Shell agreed to resign as president of Paramount Skydance to concentrate on his legal headache.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illegal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegal. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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