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
Gossip Girl dealt in all things illicit across for over 120 episodes, scandalizing its young audience and making stars of its ensemble.
—
Rachel Desantis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The pastor said that over the past decade or so, the church has sent thousands of illicit Bibles in Farsi to Iran with a WhatsApp number written inside, so the retriever overseas can call or text for more information.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
When taxes go up, so does illicit trade.
—Bautista Vivanco, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Maxwell told Blanche during the two-day interview there was no client list, no blackmail scheme and, to her knowledge, no high-profile Epstein associates who committed illicit acts in connection with his crimes.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Rachel Desantis, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
The pastor said that over the past decade or so, the church has sent thousands of illicit Bibles in Farsi to Iran with a WhatsApp number written inside, so the retriever overseas can call or text for more information.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
When taxes go up, so does illicit trade.
—Bautista Vivanco, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Maxwell told Blanche during the two-day interview there was no client list, no blackmail scheme and, to her knowledge, no high-profile Epstein associates who committed illicit acts in connection with his crimes.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illicit
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
Under Texas law, a contract signed under duress is generally voidable if it was obtained through an improper or unlawful threat that overrode the signer’s free will.—
Chase Rogers,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Violating that trust is both cruel and unlawful.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The laws, which her party backed in recent years, eliminated preliminary detention in certain cases and raised the threshold for seizing criminal assets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The only real threat is a whistleblower, like an outcast kid overhearing the whole criminal scheme from the floor below his mother’s office.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illicit. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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