unauthorized

adjective

Definition of unauthorizednext
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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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 unauthorized Among other things, the attackers extended their unauthorized access to an internal wallet signing service to complete transactions outside the normal withdrawal process. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026 Credit cards generally provide stronger legal protections for disputing unauthorized charges and purchases that never arrive. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026 After police detectives identified Burke as the suspect and arrested him in Chicago, prosecutors approved one felony count of unauthorized video recording, according to the news release. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026 Mosley accused Seckendorf of facilitating the unauthorized payments, failing to disclose irregularities, failing to pay his taxes and mortgage, and taking a cut of sale proceeds without transparent accounting. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unauthorized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unauthorized
  1. improper
  2. illicit
  3. unlawful
  4. inappropriate
  5. unacceptable
  6. illegitimate
Adjective
  • Cambridge Analytica, which was a political consulting firm, allegedly accessed the information of 87 million Facebook users in improper fashion.
    — Julia Boorstin, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
  • He was signed to the practice squad last week, creating a huge uproar because of past allegations of improper behavior by Tucker from 16 massage therapists in Baltimore-area spas.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of improper
Adjective
  • So far, the most plausible driver of recent declines in overdose deaths is a change in the illicit drug supply.
    — J. Travis Donahoe, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But how and through whom the money flowed into the Alpha account revealed that it was intended to remain secret, more akin to a covert and illicit scheme, given that it was managed in part by a senior advisor to the president of the United States.
    — Matthew Cole, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Runa’s incarceration – and death months after her release – is now the subject of a lawsuit brought by her mother against Hyogo Prefectural Police alleging unlawful arrest and detention.
    — Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Last month, the seizure was ruled unlawful by the California Supreme Court.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • When the employee told Gonzalez the questions were inappropriate, Gonzalez took a drink of beer and intentionally spat it onto the worker's arm.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • According to the lawsuit, this arrangement is inappropriate because immigration detention is civil, not criminal.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of inappropriate
Adjective
  • William James Middle received its fifth unacceptable rating in a row in the 2025-26 school year.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Not going for it on 4th down, and then settling for a field goal attempt with a 3 point lead is unacceptable!
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Well, yes, this Court is an illegitimate Court on a number of levels.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Some people who file illegitimate disputes are simply looking to take advantage of the system and were never good customers to begin with.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of illegitimate

Browse Nearby Words

unauthentic
unauthorized
unavailability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unauthorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unauthorized. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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