as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
had a long history of using illicit drugs
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Recent Examples of illicit
He's used them to pressure Mexico and China into pledging more action to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
—
Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
But regulation was meant to bring normalcy and order to what was once considered an illicit, though widespread, activity.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
On the table before the two leaders, who met at Busan’s Gimhae Air Base, were a range of thorny issues including tariffs, China’s sweeping export controls on rare earths, US restrictions on Chinese access to American high-tech, and China’s role in the illicit fentanyl trade.
—Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Robin Schneider, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, a statewide industry trade group, told the Detroit Free Press in an interview last month that higher cannabis prices will drive consumers back to illicit sources.
—Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
But regulation was meant to bring normalcy and order to what was once considered an illicit, though widespread, activity.
—David Hill, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
On the table before the two leaders, who met at Busan’s Gimhae Air Base, were a range of thorny issues including tariffs, China’s sweeping export controls on rare earths, US restrictions on Chinese access to American high-tech, and China’s role in the illicit fentanyl trade.
—Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Robin Schneider, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, a statewide industry trade group, told the Detroit Free Press in an interview last month that higher cannabis prices will drive consumers back to illicit sources.
—Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illicit
Adjective
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Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.—
James Bruggers,
The Courier-Journal,
5 July 2017
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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
Adjective
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Christina Leona Cowens, 41, was initially arrested last week on suspicion of felony grand theft, along with misdemeanor counts of unlawful disposal of human remains and attempting to conceal a death.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
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Several organizations have sued the administration, saying the cancellations were unlawful and that they are owed thousands of dollars in outstanding expenses.—
NPR,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In addition to the murder charge, Thompson faces charges of committing a terroristic act, aggravated assault, engaging in violent criminal group activity and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to the jail roster.—
Rafael Escalera Montoto,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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The discovery helped open the door to more recent developments such as tinkering with the genetic makeup of living things, treating disease by inserting genes into patients, identifying human remains and criminal suspects from DNA samples, and tracing family trees and ancient human ancestors.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illicit. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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