as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
had a long history of using illicit drugs
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illicit
Each is nevertheless charmed by the other, forming a relationship that’s portrayed a bit like an illicit affair.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
The illicit cash involved, police say, often comes from drug crimes, human trafficking, or other criminal activity.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Hanson garnered a reputation as a great team player, an all-around hustler, and someone with valuable connections to illicit drugs that would help players through pain.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
The genre grew through messaging apps like Telegram and illicit networks like el paquete — the packet — a system where content is shared weekly via flash drives.
—Ana González Vilá, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illicit
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
The illicit cash involved, police say, often comes from drug crimes, human trafficking, or other criminal activity.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Hanson garnered a reputation as a great team player, an all-around hustler, and someone with valuable connections to illicit drugs that would help players through pain.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
The genre grew through messaging apps like Telegram and illicit networks like el paquete — the packet — a system where content is shared weekly via flash drives.
—Ana González Vilá, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 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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African telecom companies are often at the mercy of government agencies that order the shutdowns, but pressure from the international community could increase accountability and compel the companies to deny unlawful or arbitrary shutdown orders, the researchers argued.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
29 Sep. 2025
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Oregon is calling for the court to declare Hegseth's order unlawful and to enjoin the federalization of troops, as well as permanently enjoin the defense secretary and the Pentagon from calling upon Oregon National Guard members for federal service.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The 1983 crime classic follows determined, criminal-minded Cuban immigrant Tony Montana (Pacino), who becomes the biggest drug smuggler in Miami and is eventually undone by his own drug addiction.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Oct. 2025
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That panel included two former judges who had overseen international criminal tribunals, a former legal adviser to the British Foreign Office, and Amal Clooney, a British Lebanese human-rights lawyer and the wife of George Clooney.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illicit. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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