ILLEGALITY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

illegality

noun

as in criminality

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Recent Examples of illegality In an attempt to make the case against him, Pembrock commits a stunning act of illegality that would immediately have the case thrown out of court but at least provides the film a few moments of suspense. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 That’s typically a vital part of the narrative of illegality. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 The Philippines began to release video of China violating the arbitration ruling, and calling out the illegality of China’s actions on social media. — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026 As a result, the decision was 6–3 on the illegality of the executive order, but only 5–4 on the constitutional question. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 The Justice Manual violations described above represent only one dimension of the illegality of this Fund. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 26 June 2026 And the blurred line between guanxi and outright illegality bred widespread graft. — Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 3 June 2026 While lower prices are welcome news for consumers, cannabis businesses have had difficulty making money due to high financing and operating costs, and an inability to take normal business tax deductions due to the drug’s illegality under federal law. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026 Speaking out in that way is not illegality. — ABC News, 18 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegality

Noun

What about how police agencies understand criminality and risk can only be put on the table and frankly stated behind closed doors?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
The Jackson County District Attorney's office has previously said convening a grand jury does not mean there is any criminality and is standard procedure for most unnatural or suspicious deaths in the county.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of criminality

Noun

But in a court-martial, a service member who argues that an order is unlawful has the burden of proving its unlawfulness.

— Joshua Kastenberg, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Many people at Harvard and elsewhere feared that the university would reach a deal with the Administration before Judge Burroughs’s decision, because that would have meant that no court would declare the unlawfulness of the Administration’s actions toward academic institutions.

— Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025

Definition of unlawfulness

Noun

When the couple is suspected of child abuse, their five kids are taken away by protective services.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2026
While rights activists accuse Bukele's government of widespread abuses, the country is notably safer than many other countries whose people have recently lost TPS protections.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

But more important to us right now is getting healthcare to the American people and ending the lawlessness.

— NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Decent law-abiding Israelis living in Judea/Samaria are also disgusted by behavior of the few who violate civil law & Torah by violence & lawlessness.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of lawlessness

Noun

At the center of the story is Rashid, a prison guard who has been suspended from his job after being accused of corruption.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Described as a combination of Filipino genre cinema with American indie grit, the film explores themes including class, power and corruption.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year in our great nation and especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once-wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year, especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026

Definition of licentiousness

Noun

Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).

— Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026

Definition of immorality

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illegalities

illegality

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“Illegality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegality. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of illegality

noun

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