illicit

[ih-lis-it] / ɪˈlɪs ɪt /

ADJECTIVE

not legal; forbidden

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adulterous bootleg clandestine contraband furtive illegal illegitimate immoral improper prohibited unauthorized unlawful unlicensed wrongful

WEAK

black-market contrary to law criminal crooked dirty felonious guilty heavy in violation of law lawless out of line racket wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aboveboard allowed authorized chaste ethical forthright good lawful legal legitimate moral open permitted pure right truthful uncorrupt

WEAK

blessed licit noble proper

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.

Is Steinberger concerned that people could use his tool for illicit purposes?

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

“Iran is going to double and triple down on a wide array of illicit revenue opportunities,” said Matthew Levitt, counterterrorism expert with the Washington Institute think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Despite the government's insistence its targets were part of an illicit and murderous network, residents tell a different story.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

The illicit rhino horn market remains lucrative fuelled by their use in traditional medicine and their value as status symbols in several Asian countries.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Baby Regina wasn't a foil, hiding the illicit delivery.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Vocabulary lists containing illicit

Some Tricky Homonyms

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

This Week in Words: September 1 - 7, 2018

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Brave New World

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!