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
Police alleged the group targeted an illicit warehouse, protected by armed, private security, on Adams Avenue in San Leandro.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors accused Miguel Aguasvivas-Lizardo of transporting illicit cash since 2021, hauling hundreds of thousands of dollars to Miami, often from the Orlando-area, and ultimately laundering more than $1 million of drug proceeds to purchase cryptocurrency.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Moreover, reform frameworks that prioritize illicit-market conversion—such as transitioning traditional, unregulated growers into legal cooperatives—mirror best practices championed by analysts like Whitney Economics.
—Robert Hoban, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
But everything is bigger in Texas, including gubernatorial campaigns, illicit family secrets, and the absolute rescue flare of a lesbian torch Sophie is carrying for Margot.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Prosecutors accused Miguel Aguasvivas-Lizardo of transporting illicit cash since 2021, hauling hundreds of thousands of dollars to Miami, often from the Orlando-area, and ultimately laundering more than $1 million of drug proceeds to purchase cryptocurrency.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025
Moreover, reform frameworks that prioritize illicit-market conversion—such as transitioning traditional, unregulated growers into legal cooperatives—mirror best practices championed by analysts like Whitney Economics.
—Robert Hoban, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
But everything is bigger in Texas, including gubernatorial campaigns, illicit family secrets, and the absolute rescue flare of a lesbian torch Sophie is carrying for Margot.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2025
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
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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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The reversal of a century of progress in human rights — the unlawful oppression of the foreigner, the poor and the distressed — seems to be the new American way.—
Ciera Bates-Chamberlain,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
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Guevara, who came to the US from El Salvador in 2004, was charged with improperly entering a pedestrian roadway, obstruction of law enforcement officers and unlawful assembly.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Trump's appeal against his conviction in his New York criminal case dealing with payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels is ongoing.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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The local jurisdiction is reportedly pursuing any criminal charges against Francisco for killing Camacho, according to a statement from DHS.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illicit. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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