as in illegal
contrary to or forbidden by law
had a long history of using illicit drugs
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Recent Examples of illicit
Musk had accused the organization, which recommended major brands to pause their spending on X after his takeover, of organizing an illicit boycott.
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Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The latest: The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association wrote in a letter to Marty's committee that Minnesotans are already betting on sports online but are doing so through illicit, unregulated operators who take bets from kids and don't generate revenue for the state.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to slap a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Canada, as well as Mexico, if the country does not clamp down on immigration and the trade of illicit narcotics.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The Sinaloa drug cartel uses drug tunnels like these throughout the Southwest to smuggle illicit narcotics and people, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) 2024 drug threat assessment
Some of these tunnels are highly advanced and equipped with electricity and ventilation.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illicit 
Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The latest: The Minnesota Indian Gaming Association wrote in a letter to Marty's committee that Minnesotans are already betting on sports online but are doing so through illicit, unregulated operators who take bets from kids and don't generate revenue for the state.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to slap a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Canada, as well as Mexico, if the country does not clamp down on immigration and the trade of illicit narcotics.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The Sinaloa drug cartel uses drug tunnels like these throughout the Southwest to smuggle illicit narcotics and people, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) 2024 drug threat assessment
Some of these tunnels are highly advanced and equipped with electricity and ventilation.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for illicit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illicit
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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In finding the defendant guilty in this case, the jury necessarily found unanimously that the defendant falsified 34 separate entries in his business records with the intent to defraud, which included an intent to commit or conceal a conspiracy to promote his own election by unlawful means.ABC NEWS, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
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Capitol Police identified him Thursday as Adrian J. Hinton, 35, saying he was arrested for unlawful activities.Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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These can all make great rivals for the criminal mastermind gangs as well.Rob Wieland, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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In its latest analysis of the situation in Haiti, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said that a peacekeeping operation alone will not solve Haiti’s gang problem and the structures that support the criminal groups.Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near illicit
Cite this Entry
“Illicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illicit. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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