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
  • Federal authorities routinely target South Florida remittance companies that operate as conduits for unlawful money transfers, especially for drug traffickers, because many are suspected of evading bank-reporting requirements.
    — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
  • Renner was charged with second-degree manslaughter and Seymore with unlawful imprisonment, among other charges.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 10 July 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • Donis said multiple people reached out with complaints of a foul smell emanating from the river.
    — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
  • Once opened, check for foul odors, cloudiness, or spurting liquid when opening.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of foul
Adjective
  • An ‘illicit relationship’ John Cotham met Yaffe at Gold’s Gym in 2008, according to Yaffe’s counterclaim.
    — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
  • The state does offer two black plates, but a third, illicit version has been spotted on the roads.
    — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • And it all might be taken away by absurd, unfair officiating.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Mora has accused the company of unfair and fraudulent business practices.
    — Claire Rush, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • As part of her release conditions, she has been ordered to stay away from her 13-year-old daughter while the criminal case proceeds.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • In some regions, a single medical examiner may oversee hundreds of deaths each year, leading to bottlenecks that can slow criminal cases, complicate insurance claims, and leave families waiting months and sometimes years for answers.
    — Gregory McDonald, STAT, 13 July 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Lyndsy Fonseca, rapper Russ, Tom Cavanagh, Hunter King, Joseph Lee Anderson and Rob Riggle star in the indie film, which concerns a group of campers who run into a nasty, giant, prehistoric spider.
    — William Earl, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • At that point, a nasty nearly $7 million a day ticking fee takes effect that will find Paramount on the hook for hundreds of millions out to WBD shareholders each month until the matter gets regulatory approval.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 July 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 18 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of illegal for Spanish Speakers

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