1
as in spurious
born to a father and mother who are not married
despite being illegitimate, Alexander Hamilton rose to greatness
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
an illegitimate use of campaign contributions for personal expenses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unreasonable
not using or following good reasoning
made several illegitimate inferences
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illegitimate
The book ends with a battle in which Arthur and his illegitimate son, Mordred, who has unlawfully seized the throne, mortally wound each other; its pages are covered in blood and glory.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 11 June 2025
However, there has never been a male emperor descended from a female line, as their lack of descent from a male emperor would have been seen as illegitimate.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
For years, Putin claimed that direct talks with Ukraine were impossible because President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government was illegitimate and, more important, Ukraine wasn’t a real country—merely a proxy for the American imperial project.
—Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
Putin has insisted that Ukraine must replace its leadership through elections, describing Zelensky's rule as illegitimate.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illegitimate
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 11 June 2025
However, there has never been a male emperor descended from a female line, as their lack of descent from a male emperor would have been seen as illegitimate.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2025
For years, Putin claimed that direct talks with Ukraine were impossible because President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government was illegitimate and, more important, Ukraine wasn’t a real country—merely a proxy for the American imperial project.
—Andrew Ryvkin, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025
Putin has insisted that Ukraine must replace its leadership through elections, describing Zelensky's rule as illegitimate.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illegitimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegitimate
Adjective
-
Jax, an artist who photographed the event, offered a totally different, spurious backstory for swaggotry.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2025
-
Today, spurious depictions of South Africa as an anti-white hellscape swim in the same waters.—
Time,
Time,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
Adjective
-
The Biden-era Justice Department, Washington, D.C., and six states sued in 2021, arguing the alliance violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act, a federal antitrust law that prohibits unreasonable restraints on competition.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
30 June 2025
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Expectations for Jade are borderline unreasonable, and patience is a virtue in WWE as evidenced by all the times Karrion Kross was allowed to fall on his face for years before finally finding his voice.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
The misbegotten union gave birth to the titan towers of Upper Downtown.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
29 May 2025
-
Her misbegotten experiment was the culmination of a cycle of extreme policies set off by Britain’s decision to forsake the world’s largest trading bloc.—
Mark Landler,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Jorge Garibay said in a statement Friday, adding that the efforts were aimed at reducing fire risk and unlawful activity throughout the city.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
-
The court cited the First Amendment (freedom of speech), the Fourth Amendment (protection against unlawful search and seizure), and the Fourteenth Amendment (due process and equal protection).—
Ashley Fredde,
Idaho Statesman,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
So watch for seemingly irrational behavior and erratic tactical moves, as leadership is unafraid to confuse customers and take outsized capital risks.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
As Reva relates the stories of her three main characters—including one whose true passion is snail conservation—her novel hums with bruised faith in the irrational power of hope, whether for peace, love, endangered species, or familial reconciliation.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
In two new indictments, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges millions in illicit earnings by remote work impersonators.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
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What emerges isn’t just kickbacks — but the outlines of a prostitution ring allegedly funded with illicit money.—
Gina Montaner,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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The Amazon founder was previously married to Mackenzie Scott from 1993 to 2019, and the couple share three sons and an adopted daughter.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
-
His adopted daughter, Sandra Correia Lopes, 12, weighs just 12 kilograms, or 26 pounds, and falls sick frequently.—
Sui-Lee Wee,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illegitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegitimate. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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