LEGALLY Synonyms: 16 Similar and Opposite Words

legally

adverb

ˈlē-gə-lē

Definition of legally

as in ethically

according to the rules or the law that's not a move that can be made legally in chess

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of legally Having been outspoken against transgender rights in recent years, Rowling previously celebrated UK’s Supreme Court last year ruling that prohibits trans women from being legally recognized as women. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2026 In his remarks, Williams pointed out that Javits immigrated to America legally. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 31 Oct. 2026 Past administrations pursued legal theories that were sometimes legally sound, sometimes not, said David Super, law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 You’re legally required to stick to the left side of the road in the case of a two-way highway. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for legally

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legally

Adverb

Recent research emphasizes that digital citizenship prepares students to be empowered online and act ethically, safely and legally in digital environments.

— Kafi Kumasi, The Conversation, 27 Oct. 2026
The ethically messy experiment lasted less than a week, but the volunteer guards’ rapid tumble into cruelty and aggression has endured in our cultural imagination.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of ethically

Adverb

Instead, voters exercised their rights on what many voting observers considered to be a fairly normal Election Day.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Some of the players wearing the Guardian Cap are fairly high profile, including Saints receiver Chris Olave and Patriots receiver Romeo Doubs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of fairly

Adverb

Employees have become burned out and morally conflicted as their focus has shifted from pursuing drug smugglers and human traffickers to apprehending asylum seekers in courthouses and arresting day laborers at their worksites.

— Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
In some versions, she’s described as a morally deplorable witch taking part in the abuse of runaway slaves who was ultimately burned for her misdeeds and buried near the cemetery.

— Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of morally

Adverb

Set in modern-day Buffalo, Don’t Go Gentle follows Tanya Jenkins, a mother and Army medic who was honorably discharged.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026
Nash was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 2016 and worked as a contractor overseas, teaching pilots to fly F-15.

— Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of honorably

Adverb

The closures also disrupted Art Basel Paris, a major international art fair held at the Grand Palais.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
To convince officials that the art fair deserved a rent reduction, Art Basel chief executive Noah Horowitz reportedly gave a far less flattering picture of the company’s finances and the art market as a whole.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of fair

Adverb

Before things kicked off, a chant devoted to keeping the earth clean echoed at the beach.

— Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
That's especially proven in season 2, when — after coming clean to her team about holding Sir captive — Gabi's closest allies turn their backs on her.

— Dave Quinn, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024