as in improper
without permission; not authorized
an unauthorized use of government vehicles Unauthorized personnel are not allowed in the building.
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Recent Examples of unauthorized
In Tennessee, Republican leaders have worked with the White House to craft a package of bills aimed at cutting off any state spending on unauthorized residents, in part by creating immigration checks for public school children.
—
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
The least satisfying tales involve a group of reasonable counterparties teaming up against a single aggressor, like an Indiana man who’s turned his grandmother’s house into an unauthorized urban farm.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Our legislation prohibits unauthorized law enforcement activity within set distances of polling and elections locations without a judicial warrant.
—State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
Former President Carter made an unauthorized trip to North Korea to meet with Kim Il Sung in 1994, during the Clinton administration, to discuss the escalating nuclear crisis.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unauthorized
Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
The least satisfying tales involve a group of reasonable counterparties teaming up against a single aggressor, like an Indiana man who’s turned his grandmother’s house into an unauthorized urban farm.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Our legislation prohibits unauthorized law enforcement activity within set distances of polling and elections locations without a judicial warrant.
—State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
Former President Carter made an unauthorized trip to North Korea to meet with Kim Il Sung in 1994, during the Clinton administration, to discuss the escalating nuclear crisis.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unauthorized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unauthorized
Adjective
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He was cited for making an improper turn.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Such deficiencies raise the risk of improper or unauthorized spending and echo broader concerns about unexplained federal revenue entries.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Social issue and character driven, events are steered by Swiss gold trader Hannah who, with her company teetering towards collapse, turns to illicit trading.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
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Students subsequently signed a pledge promising to say no to illicit substances and study two hours per night, and engaged in a call-and-response chant with Jackson.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
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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These new regulations impose the world’s fastest removal deadline, requiring platforms to take down unlawful synthetic media within three hours of notification.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
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On Wednesday, a coalition of health and environmental groups sued the EPA over the revocation, calling it unlawful and harmful.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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After Clark stepped down on Tuesday because an internal investigation unearthed an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, the union announced on Wednesday that Meyer will take over on an interim basis entering a pivotal year for the future of the sport.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The Russia date has sparked backlash from fans, who argue that performing in Moscow during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is inappropriate.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The behavior's unacceptable, and so this is our way to try to end it or stop it, at least here in Manteca.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
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That is completely unacceptable.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Neither starts the series out with much in the way of prospects, with Jon the illegitimate, unacknowledged son of a Lord and Sansa relegated to the status of servant after her father is executed before her very eyes.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
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Nelly herself is heavily reinterpreted by Fennell, imagined in this film as the illegitimate daughter of an aristocrat who serves as Cathy’s maid; the film also runs with modern readings of her character as a more proactive meddler in the doomed love between the main characters.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unauthorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unauthorized. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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