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Showing results for illegal. Search instead for illedelem.
Definitions

illegal

[ih-lee-guhl] / ɪˈli gəl /
ADJECTIVE
against the law
Synonyms
STRONGEST
banned criminal illegitimate illicit irregular outlawed prohibited smuggled unauthorized unconstitutional unlawful unlicensed unwarranted wrongful
WEAK
actionable black-market bootleg contraband crooked extralegal felonious forbidden heavy hot interdicted lawless not approved not legal outside the law proscribed prosecutable racket shady sub-rosa taboo under-the-table unofficial unwarrantable verboten violating wildcat
Antonyms
STRONGEST
authorized blessed ethical good justifiable lawful legal legitimate moral permitted right warranted
WEAK
allowed permissible

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Under this Court’s precedents, not to mention common sense, those circumstances taken together can constitute at least reasonable suspicion of illegal presence,” he said in a concurrence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour called the ruling a win, as various states have filed lawsuits against Kalshi, arguing its operations constitute illegal gambling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Monkey Forest park director Matt Lovatt said: "Knowing that her DNA could help protect Barbary macaques from poaching and illegal trade is something truly special."

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Many of them—instituted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—were deemed illegal by the U.S.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

I wondered how he’d gone about it, since we were always hearing how galamsey was illegal, but no one seemed to care.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo