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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of illegal
Louisville police say anything that goes into the air or explodes is illegal for average citizens.
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James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2017
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
Facebook has been scrutinized for its handling of its users’ data, and social networks face fines in Germany for failing to swiftly take down hate speech and illegal content.
—Amie Tsang, New York Times, 4 July 2017
In the 1950s and 1960s, major city hospitals in the United States admitted as many as 20 to 30 women a day for complications from illegal or self-induced abortions.
—Cindy Crabb, Teen Vogue, 1 July 2017
Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as a stuck-in-a-rut suburban couple who open an illegal casino to pay for their daughter's college tuition.
—Owen Gleiberman, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2017
They are charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after previous deportation or removal, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Ray Parmer.
—Carol Robinson, AL.com, 30 June 2017
Trump later walked back these comments, sort of, saying that instead, doctors should be punished for providing abortions if the procedure were made illegal.
—Michael Sebastian, Cosmopolitan, 29 June 2017
A Helsinki district court on Wednesday ordered the assets of Uber's Finnish country manager be confiscated until police conclude an investigation into whether the U.S. ride-hailing firm operates an illegal taxi service in Finland.
—Reuters, Fortune, 28 June 2017
James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2017
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
Facebook has been scrutinized for its handling of its users’ data, and social networks face fines in Germany for failing to swiftly take down hate speech and illegal content.
—Amie Tsang, New York Times, 4 July 2017
In the 1950s and 1960s, major city hospitals in the United States admitted as many as 20 to 30 women a day for complications from illegal or self-induced abortions.
—Cindy Crabb, Teen Vogue, 1 July 2017
Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as a stuck-in-a-rut suburban couple who open an illegal casino to pay for their daughter's college tuition.
—Owen Gleiberman, chicagotribune.com, 30 June 2017
They are charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after previous deportation or removal, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Ray Parmer.
—Carol Robinson, AL.com, 30 June 2017
Trump later walked back these comments, sort of, saying that instead, doctors should be punished for providing abortions if the procedure were made illegal.
—Michael Sebastian, Cosmopolitan, 29 June 2017
A Helsinki district court on Wednesday ordered the assets of Uber's Finnish country manager be confiscated until police conclude an investigation into whether the U.S. ride-hailing firm operates an illegal taxi service in Finland.
—Reuters, Fortune, 28 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illegal
Adjective
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Court filings allege that Louisiana's unlawful detainment costs the state more than $2.5 million each year.Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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Potential charges included theft and unlawful flight from law enforcement.Caitlin McGlade, The Arizona Republic, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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After Russian ship docks to space station, astronauts report a foul smell Around these parts, the usual response to a foul smell is a glance in the dog's direction.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2024
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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were met with a bizarre and unwelcome arrival when a Russian spacecraft docked: a foul smell.Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The woman, 29, arrived at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand on a flight from Vancouver on December 8 carrying the illicit drugs in her carry-on bag, according to a release from the New Zealand Customs Service.Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 14 Dec. 2024
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Most drones that are sighted appear to be larger than typical hobbyist models, which has also heightened concerns about their potential use for surveillance or other illicit purposes.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The pop icon is no stranger to body positivity − after years of scrutiny in the entertainment industry, she's become an outspoken voice against unfair beauty standards.Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
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Assaf Gavron: What settler violence is doing to Israel The threats, the violence, and the unfair outcome were what made that day outside Ramallah a normal one.Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Pointing a laser at an airplane is a federal crime, and conviction can result in civil and criminal penalties and up to five years in jail.Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
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The Georgia case represents the last remaining criminal charges against Trump.Sam Gringlas, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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At its simplest, while tracking cookies are a nasty underpin to the internet, they can be seen and controlled, whether by those website popups or electing to use some form of private browsing that blocks such cookies altogether.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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But the only bacteria raw or pasteurized milk contain are the nasty kind—salmonella, campylobacter and the like, according to the FDA.Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Illegal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illegal. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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