illegal

adjective

(ˌ)i(l)-ˈlē-gəl How to pronounce illegal (audio)
Definition of illegalnext
1
as in unlawful
contrary to or forbidden by law it is illegal to import those birds into this country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in foul
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport an illegal pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegal
  1. unlawful
  2. foul
  3. illicit
  4. unfair
  5. criminal
  6. nasty
Adjective
  • Spires is also charged with felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a dangerous person and three misdemeanors, while Wilson is also charged with two misdemeanors, filings show.
    — Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Put more bluntly, sports event contracts are protected by federal law in some parts of the country but remain vulnerable elsewhere to states deeming them unlawful.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • Goalkeepers tend to be the most knowledgeable, and most players have a good understanding of the fundamentals, but a routine question about what constitutes a foul throw usually produces an incredibly high number of incorrect answers.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Tatis never got past second base, as Skenes struck out Jake Cronenworth, got a pop-up to the left side of the infield, and Ty France to pop up in foul territory on the right side.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of foul
Adjective
  • Deli containers, those clear plastic cylinders that hold bagel schmears, premade pasta salads, and the occasional illicit public beach cocktail, enjoy vaunted status in the food world.
    — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Lake County State's Attorney said an investigation starting in June 2026 found illicit activity on a peer-to-peer file-sharing network.
    — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • In recent days, the United States proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair and undermine the net benefits for Canada, and called into question the reliability of any deal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • And many of the 1970s nationalization of most major oil companies holdings in oil exporting nations were partly due to the sense that the original concession agreements were unfair.
    — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfair
Adjective
  • Jacobs was formally charged Thursday with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property, stemming from the May 23 incident at his home near Green Bay.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The bill brings state fireworks licensing requirements in line with federal ones by expanding the list of criminal convictions that make applicants ineligible for fireworks licenses.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Minneola City Councilman David Yeager’s efforts to annex his new home into the city earlier this summer sparked a nasty debate on the council that led to two members being censured last week for incivility.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Working with a nasty four-pitch mix, Bradley struck out six over four innings before achieving the feat in the fifth.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of nasty
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.

Browse Nearby Words

ill-bred
illegal
illegalities
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Cite this Entry

“Illegal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegal. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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