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.

Some 75% of North Koreans migrants in China are women, and illegals living with Chinese men face an especially precarious existence.

From Washington Times • Aug. 16, 2023

Poteyev’s new job in Moscow was deputy director of the bureau running the deep-cover illegals in the United States.

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2020

Together, Lewis and Harriet Hayden opened their doors to those on the run, turning their home into a haven for strangers whom the federal government deemed illegals.

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2019

On TV, The Americans revives good old-fashioned paranoia about the sleeper agent, prompted by Chapman and the illegals program, which was busted in 2010.

From The Guardian • Nov. 16, 2018

For instance, there has been very muted coverage of some elements in Parrikar's cabinet — like a minister who is rumoured to be pushing illegals into Europe.

From Behind the News: Voices from Goa's Press by Various

Vocabulary lists containing illegal

List 3

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